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HEAD  OF  HOMER. 


ECLECTIC    SCHOOL    READINGS 


THE    STORY    OF    TROY 


BY 


M.  CLARKE 


RAfty 

TTN 


NEW  YORK  •:-  CINCINNATI  •:    CHICAGO 
AMERICAN  BOOK  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,  1897,  BY 
AMERICAN   BOOK   COMPANY, 


Story  of  Troy. 
W.  P.  2 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

INTRODUCTION  —  HOMER,  THE  FATHER  OF  POETRY    ....       7 
THE  GODS  AND  GODDESSES  n 


I.  TROY   BEFORE   THE    SlEGE IQ 

II.  THE  JUDGMENT  OF  PARIS 33 

III.  THE  LEAGUE  AGAINST  TROY 46 

IV.  BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR 63 

V.  THE  WRATH  OF  ACHILLES 76  \s 

VI.  THE  DREAM  OF  AGAMEMNON 92 

VII.  THE  COMBAT  BETWEEN  MENELAUS  AND  PARIS 109 

VIII.  THE  FIRST  GREAT  BATTLE 124 

IX.  THE  SECOND  BATTLE  —  EXPLOIT  OF  DIOMEDE  AND  ULYSSES  149 

X.  THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS  —  DEATH  OF  PATROCLUS     .     .  166 

XI.  END  OF  THE  WRATH  OF  ACHILLES  —  DEATH  OF  HECTOR  .  193  \s 

XII.  DEATH  OF  ACHILLES  —  FALL  AND  DESTRUCTION  OF  TROY  .  220 

XIII.  THE  GREEK  CHIEFS  AFTER  THE  WAR 240 

5 


'TY 


INTRODUCTION. 


I.    HOMER,  THE    FATHER    OF    POETRY. 

IN  this  book  we  are  to  tell  the  story  of  Troy, 
and  particularly  of  the  famous  siege  which  ended 
in  the  total  destruction  of  that  renowned  city.  It 
is  a  story  of  brave  warriors  and  heroes  of  3000 
years  ago,  about  whose  exploits  the  greatest  poets 
and  historians  of  ancient  times  have  written. 
Some  of  the  wonderful  events  of  the  memorable 
siege  are  related  in  a  celebrated  poem  called  the 
iri-ad,  written  in  the  Greek  language.  The  author 
of  this  poem  was  Ho'mer,  who  was  the  author 
of  another  great  poem,  the  Od'ys-sey,  which  tells  of 
the  voyages  and  adventures  of  the  Greek  hero, 
U-lys'ses,  after  the  taking  of  Troy. 

Homer  has  been  called  the  Father  of  Poetry, 
because  he  was  the  first  and  greatest  of  poets.  He 
lived  so  long  ago  that  very  little  is  known  about 
him.  We  do  not  even  know  for  a  certainty  when 
or  where  he  was  born.  It  is  believed,  however, 
that  he  lived  in  the  ninth  century  before  Christ,  and 

7 


that  his  native  place  was  Smyr'na,  in  Asia  Minor. 
But  long  after  his  death  several  other  cities  claimed 
the  honor  of  being  his  birthplace. 

Seven  Grecian  cities  vied  for  Homer  dead, 
Through  which  the  living  Homer  begged  his  bread. 

LEONIDAS. 

It  is  perhaps  not  true  that  Homer  was  so  poor 
as  to  be  obliged  to  beg  for  his  bread ;  but  it  is  prob- 
able that  he  earned  his  living  by  traveling  from  city 
to  city  through  many  parts  of  Greece  and  Asia 
Minor,  reciting  his  poems  in  the  palaces  of  princes, 
and  at  public  assemblies.  This  was  one  of  the 
customs  of  ancient  times,  when  the  art  of  writing 
was  either  not  known,  or  very  little  practiced.  The 
poets,  or  bards,  of  those  days  committed  their  com- 
positions to  memory,  and  repeated  them  aloud  at 
gatherings  of  the  people,  particularly  at  ^stivals 
and  athletic  games,  of  which  the  ancient  Greeks 
were  very  fond.  At  those  games  prizes  and  rewards 
Were  given  to  the  bards  as  well  as  to  the  athletes. 

It  is  said  that  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  $he 
great  poet  became  blind,  and  that  this  was  why  he 
received  the  name  of  Homer,  which  signified  a 
blind  person.  The  name  first  given  to  him,  we  are 
told,  was  Mel-e-sig'e-nes,  from  the  river  Me'les,  a 
small  stream  on  the  banks  of  which  his  native  city 
of  Smyrna  was  situated. 


So  little  being  known  of  Homer's  life,  there  has 
been  much  difference  of  opinion  about  him  among 
learned  men.  Many  have  believed  that  Homer 
never  existed.  Others  have  thought  that  the  Iliad 
and  Odyssey  were  composed  not  by  one  author, 
but  by  several.  "  Some,"  says  the  English  poet, 
Walter  Savage  Landor,  "  tell  us  that  there  were 
twenty  Homers,  some  deny  that  there  was  ever 
one."  Those  who  believe  that  there  were  "  twenty 
Homers  "  think  that  different  parts  of  the  two  great 
poems  —  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey  —  were  composed 
by  different  persons,  and  that  all  the  parts  were 
afterwards  put  together  in  the  form  in  which  they 
now  appear.  The  opinion  of  most  scholars  at 
present,  however,  is  that  Homer  did  really  exist, 
that  he  was  a  wandering  bard,  or  minstrel,  who  sang 
or  recited  verses  or  ballads  composed  by  himself, 
about  the  great  deeds  of  heroes  and  warriors,  and 
that  those  ballads,  collected  and  arranged  in  after 
years  in  two  separate  books,  form  the  poems  known 
as  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey. 

Homer's  poetry  is  what  is  called  epic  poetry,  that 
is,  it  tells  about  heroes  and  heroic  actions.  The 
Iliad  and  Odyssey  are  the  first  and  greatest  of  epic 
poems.  In  all  ages  since  Homer's  time,  scholars 
have  agreed  in  declaring  them  to  be  the  finest 
poetic  productions  of  human  genius.  No  nation  in 


10 

the  world  has  ever  produced  poems  so  beautiful  or 
so  perfect.  They  have  been  read  and  admired  by 
learned  men  for  more  than  2000  years.  They  have 
been  translated  into  the  languages  of  all  civilized 
countries.  In  this  book  we  make  many  quotations 
from  the  fine  translation  of  the  Iliad  by  our  Ameri- 
can poet,  William  Cullen  Bryant.  We  quote  also 
from  the  well-known  translation  by  the  English  poet, 
Alexander  Pope. 

The  ancients  had  a  very  great  admiration  for  the 
poetry  of  Homer.  We  are  told  that  every  educated 
Greek  could  repeat  from  memory  any  passage  in 
the  Iliad  or  Odyssey.  Alexander  the  Great  was  so 
fond  of  Homer's  poems  that  he  always  had  them 
under  his  pillow  while  he  slept.  He  kept  the  Iliad 
in  a  richly  ornamented  casket,  saying  that  "  the 
most  perfect  work  of  human  genius  ought  to  be 
preserved  in  a  box  the  most  valuable  and  precious 
in  the  world." 

So  great  was  the  veneration  the  Greeks  had  for 
Homer,  that  they  erected  temples  and  altars  to  him, 
and  worshiped  him  as  a  god.  They  held  festivals 
in  his  honor,  and  made  medals  bearing  the  figure 
of  the  poet  sitting  on  a  throne  and  holding  in  his 
hands  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey.  One  of  the  kings  of 
E'gypt  built  in  that  country  a  magnificent  temple, 
in  which  was  set  up  a  statue  of  Homer,  surrounded 


II 

with  a  beautiful  representation  of  the  seven  cities 
that  contended  for  the  honor  of  being  the  place  of 
his -birth. 

Great  bard  of  Greece,  whose  ever-during  verse 
All  ages  venerate,  all  tongues  rehearse; 
Could  blind  idolatry  be  justly  paid 
To  aught  of  mental  power  by  man  display'd, 
To  thee,  thou  sire  of  soul-exalting  song, 
That  boundless  worship  might  to  thee  belong. 

HAYLEY. 


II.    THE    GODS    AND    GODDESSES. 

To  understand  the  Story  of  Troy  it  is  necessary 
to  know  something  about  the  gods  and  goddesses, 
who  played  so  important  a  part  in  the  events  we 
are  to  relate.  We  shall  see  that  in  the  Tro'jan  War 
nearly  everything  was  ordered  or  directed  by  a  god 
or  goddess.  The  gods,  indeed,  had  much  to  do  in 
the  causing  of  the  war,  and  they  took  sides  in  the 
great  struggle,  some  of  them  helping  the  Greeks 
and  some  helping  the  Trojans. 

The  ancient  Greeks  believed  that  there  were  a 
great  many  gods.  According  to  their  religion  all 
parts  of  the  universe, —  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
the  sun  and  the  moon,  the  ocean,  seas,  and  rivers, 
the  mountains  and  forests,  the  winds  and  storms, 
—  were  ruled  by  different  gods.  The  gods,  too,  it 


12 


was  supposed,  controlled  all  the  affairs  of  human 
life.  There  were  a  god  of  war  and  a  god  of  peace, 
and  gods  of  music,  and  poetry,  and  dancing,  and 
hunting,  and  of  all  the  other  arts  or  occupations  in 
which  men  engaged. 

The  gods,  it  was  believed,  were  in  some  respects 
like  human  beings.  In  form  they  usually  appeared 
as  men  and  women.  They  were  passionate  and 
vindictive,  and  often  quarreled  among  themselves. 
They  married  and  had  children,  and  needed  food 
and  drink  and  sleep.  Sometimes  they  married 
human  beings,  and  the  sons  of  such  marriages  were 
the  heroes  of  antiquity,  men  of  giant  strength  who 
performed  daring  and  wonderful  feats.  The  food 
of  the  gods  was  Am-bro'sia,  which  conferred  immor- 
tality and  perpetual  youth  on  those  who  partook  of 
it ;  their  drink  was  a  delicious  wine  called  Nec'tar. 

The  gods,  then,  were  immortal  beings.  They 
never  died ;  they  never  grew  old,  and  they  possessed 
immense  power.  They  could  change  themselves, 
or  human  beings,  into  any  form,  and  they  could 
make  themselves  visible  or  invisible  at  pleasure. 
They  could  travel  through  the  skies,  or  over  earth 
or  ocean,  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  often  riding 
in  gorgeous  golden  chariots  drawn  by  horses  of  im- 
mortal breed.  They  were  greatly  feared  by  men, 
and  when  any  disaster  occurred,  —  if  lives  were  lost 


13 

by  earthquake,  or  shipwreck,  or  any  other  calamity, 
-  it  was  attributed  to  the  anger  of  some  god. 

Though  immortal  beings,  however,  the  gods  were 
subject  to  some  of  the  physical  infirmities  of  hu- 
manity. They  could  not  die,  but  they  might  be 
wounded  and  suffer  bodily  pain  the  same  as  men. 
They  often  took  part  in  the  quarrels  and  wars  of 
people  on  earth,  and  they  had  weapons  and  armor 
like  human  warriors. 

The  usual  place  of  residence  of  the  principal  gods 
was  on  the  top  of  Mount  O-lym'pus  in  Greece. 
Here  they  dwelt  in  golden  palaces,  and  they  had  a 
Council  Chamber  where  they  frequently  feasted  to- 
gether at  grand  banquets,  celestial  music  being 
rendered  by  A-pol'lo,  the  god  of  minstrelsy,  and  the 
Muses,  who  were  the  divinities  of  poetry  and  song. 

In  all  the  chief  cities  grand  temples  were  erected 
for  the  worship  of  the  gods.  One  of  the  most  fa- 
mous was  the  Par'the-non,  at  Athens.  At  the  shrines 
of  the  gods  costly  gifts  in  gold  and  silver  were  pre- 
sented, and  on  their  altars,  often  built  in  the  open 
air,  beasts  were  killed  and  burned  as  sacrifices, 
which  were  thought  to  be  very  pleasing  to  the 
divine  beings  to  whom  they  were  offered. 

The  greatest  and  most  powerful  of  the  gods  was 
Ju'pi-ter,  also  called  Jove  or  Zeus.  To  him  all  the 
rest  were  subject.  He  was  the  king  of  the  gods, 


the  mighty  Thunderer,  at  whose  nod  Olympus 
shook,  and  at  whose  word  the  heavens  trembled. 
From  his  great  power  in  the  regions  of  the  sky  he 
was  sometimes  called  the  "  cloud-compelling  Jove." 

He,  whose  all-conscious  eyes  the  world  behold, 
The  eternal  Thunderer  sat,  enthroned  in  gold. 
High  heaven  the  footstool  of  his  feet  he  makes, 
And  wide  beneath  him  all  Olympus  shakes. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  VIII. 

The  wife  of  Jupiter,  and  the  queen  of  heaven,  was 
Ju'no,  who,  as  we  shall  see,  was  the  great  enemy  of 
Troy  and  the  Trojans.  One  of  the  daughters  of 
Jupiter,  called  Ve'nus,  or  Aph-ro-di'te,  was  the  god- 
dess of  beauty  and  love.  Nep'tune  was  the  god  of 
the  sea.  He  usually  carried  in  his  hand  a  trident, 
or  three-pronged  scepter,  the  emblem  of  his  au- 
thority. 

His  sumptuous  palace-halls  were  built 
Deep  down  in  ocean,  golden,  glittering,  proof 
Against  decay  of  time. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XIII. 

Mars  was  the  god  of  war,  and  Plu'to,  also  called 
Dis  and  Ha'des,  was  god  of  the  regions  of  the 
dead.  One  of  the  most  glorious  and  powerful  of 
the  gods  was  Apollo,  or  Phoe'btis,  or  Smin'theus, 
for  he  had  many  names.  He  was  god  of  the  sun, 
and  of  medicine,  music,  and  poetry.  He  is  repre- 


i6 

sented  as  holding  in  his  hand  a  bow,  and  sometimes 
a  lyre.  Homer  calls  him  the  "  god  of  the  silver 
bow,"  and  the  "  far-darting  Apollo,"  for  the  ancients 
believed  that  with  the  dart  of  his  arrow  he  sent  down 
plagues  upon  men  whenever  they  offended  him. 

The  other  principal  deities  mentioned  by  Homer 
are  Mi-ner'va,  or  Pal'las,  the  goddess  of  wisdom ; 
Vul'can,  the  god  of  fire  ;  and  Mer'cu-ry,  or  Her'mes, 
the  messenger  of  Jupiter.  Vulcan  was  also  the  patron, 
or  god,  of  smiths.  He  had  several  forges  ;  one  was 
on  Mount  Olympus,  and  another  was  supposed  to 
be  under  Mount  ^t'na  in  Sic'i-ly.  Here,  with  his 
giant  workmen,  the  Cy'clops,  he  made  thunderbolts 
for  Jupiter,  and  sometimes  armor  and  weapons  of 
war  for  earthly  heroes. 

The  gods,  it  was  believed,  made  their  will  known 
to  men  in  various  ways, —  sometimes  by  the  flight  of 
birds,  frequently  by  dreams,  and  sometimes  by 
appearing  on  earth  under  different  forms,  and 
speaking  directly  to  kings  and  warriors.  Very 
often  men  learned  the  will  of  the  gods  by  consult- 
ing seers  and  soothsayers,  or  augurs,  —  persons  who 
were  supposed  to  have  the  power  of  foretelling 
events.  There  were  temples  also  where  the  gods 
gave  answers  through  priests.  Such  answers  were 
called  Or'a-cles,  arid  this  name  was  also  given  to 
the  priests.  The  most  celebrated  oracle  of  ancient 


17 

times  was  in  the  temple  of  Apollo  at  Del'phi,  in 
Greece.  To  this  place  people  came  from  all  parts 
of  the  world  to  consult  the  god,  whose  answers 
were  given  by  a  priestess  called  Pyth'i-a. 

The  ancients  never  engaged  in  war  or  any  other 
important  undertaking  without  sacrificing  to  the 
gods  or  consulting  their  oracles  or  soothsayers. 
Before  going  to  battle  they  made  sacrifices  to  the 
gods.  If  they  were  defeated  in  battle  they  regarded 
it  as  a  sign  of  the  anger  of  Jupiter,  or  Juno,  or 
Minerva,  or  Apollo,  or  some  of  the  other  great 
beings  who  dwelt  on  Olympus.  When  making 
leagues  or  treaties  of  peace,  they  called  the  gods  as 
witnesses,  and  prayed  to  Father  Jupiter  to  send  ter- 
rible punishments  on  any  who  should  take  false 
oaths,  or  break  their  promises.  In  the  story  of  the 
Trojan  War  we  shall  find  many  examples  of  such 
appeals  to  the  gods  by  the  chiefs  on  both  sides. 

"  O  Father  Jove,  who  rulest  from  the  top 
Of  Ida,  mightiest  one  and  most  august! 
Whichever  of  these  twain  has  done  the  wrong, 
Grant  that  he  pass  to  Pluto's  dwelling,  slain, 
While  friendship  and  a  faithful  league  are  ours. 

"  O  Jupiter  most  mighty  and  august! 
Whoever  first  shall  break  these  solemn  oaths, 
So  may  their  brains  flow  down  upon  the  earth,— 
Theirs  and  their  children's." 

BRYANT,  7//W,  Book  III. 
STO.  OF  TROY  —  2 


Painting  by  Gaudemaris. 
(18) 


OFFERING  TO  MINERVA. 


THE  STORY  OF  TROY. 


Design  by  Burne-Jones. 


I.     TROY  BEFORE  THE 
SIEGE. 

THAT  part  of  Asia  Minor 
which  borders  the  narrow 
channel  now  known  as  the 
Dar-da-nelles',  was  in  ancient 
times  called  Tro'as.  Its  capi- 
tal was  the  city  of  Troy,  which 
stood  about  three  miles  from 
the  shore  of  the  /£-ge'an  Sea, 
at  the  foot  of  Mount  Ida,  near 
the  junction  of  two  rivers,  the 
Sim'o-is,  and  the  Sca-man'der 
or  Xan'thus.  The  people  of 
Troy  and  Troas  were  called 
Trojans. 

Some  of  the  first  settlers 
in  northwestern  Asia  Minor, 
before  it  was  called  Troas, 

19 


20 

came  from  Thrace,  a  country  lying  to  the  north  of 
Greece.  The  king  of  these  Thra'cian  colonists  was 
Teu'cer.  During  his  reign  a  prince  named  Dar'da- 
nus  arrived  in  the  new  settlement.  He  was  a  son  of 
Jupiter,  and  he  came  from  Sam'o-thrace,  one  of  the 
many  islands  of  the  ^Egean  Sea.  It  is  said  that  he 
escaped  from  a  great  flood  which  swept  over  his 
native  island,  and  that  he  was  carried  on  a  raft  of 
wood  to  the  coast  of  the  kingdom  of  Teucer.  Soon 
afterwards  he  married  Teucer's  daughter.  He  then 
built  a  city  for  himself  amongst  the  hills  of  Mount 
Ida,  and  called  it  Dar-da'ni-a;  and  on  the  death  of 
Teucer  he  became  king  of  the  whole  country,  to 
which  he  gave  the  same  name,  Dardania. 

Jove  was  the  father,  cloud-compelling  Jove, 

Of  Dardanus,  by  whom  Dardania  first 

Was  peopled,  ere  our  sacred  Troy  was  built 

On  the  great  plain, —  a  populous  town;  for  men 

Dwelt  still  upon  the  roots  of  Ida  fresh 

With  many  springs. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XX. 

Dardanus  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Trojan  line  of 
kings.  He  had  a  grandson  named  Tros,  and  from 
him  the  city  Troy,  as  well  as  the  country  Troas, 
took  its  name.  The  successor  of  King  Tros  was 
his  son  rius.  By  him  Troy  was  built,  and  it  was 
therefore  also  called  iri-um  or  Il'i-on ;  hence  the 


21 

title  of  Homer's  great  poem,  —  the  Iliad.  From 
the  names  Dardanus  and  Teucer  the  city  of  Troy 
has  also  been  sometimes  called  Dardania  and 
Teu'cri-a,  and  the  Trojans  are  often  referred  to 
as  Dardanians  and  Teucrians.  Ilus  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  La-om'e-don,  and  Laomedon's  son 
Pri'am  was  king  of  Troy  during  the  famous  siege. 

The  story  of  the  founding  of  Troy  is  a  very 
interesting  one.  Ilus  went  forth  from  his  father's 
city  of  Dardania,  in  search  of  adventures,  as  was 
the  custom  of  young  princes  and  heroes  in  those 
days ;  and  he  traveled  on  until  he  arrived  at  the 
court  of  the  king  of  Phryg'i-a,  a  country  lying  east 
of  Troas.  Here  he  found  the  people  engaged  in 
athletic  games,  at  which  the  king  gave  -valuable 
prizes  for  competition.  Ilus  took  part  in  a  wrest- 
ling match,  and  he  won  fifty  young  men  and  fifty 
maidens, —  a  strange  sort  of  prize  we  may  well 
think,  but  not  at  all  strange  or  unusual  in  ancient 
times,  when  there  were  many  slaves  everywhere. 
During  his  stay  in  Phrygia  the  young  Dardanian 
prince  was  hospitably  entertained  at  the  royal 
palace.  When  he  was  about  to  depart,  the  king 
gave  him  a  spotted  heifer,  telling  him  to  follow  the 
animal,  and  to  build  a  city  for  himself  at  the  place 
where  she  should  first  lie  down  to  rest. 

Ilus    did    as    he    was    directed.     With    his    fifty 


22 

youths  and  fifty  maidens  he  set  out  to  follow  the 
heifer,  leaving  her  free  to  go  along  at  her  pleasure. 
She  marched  on  for  many  miles,  and  at  last  lay 
down  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Ida  on  a  beautiful  plain 
watered  by  two  rivers,  and  here  Ilus  encamped  for 
the  night.  Before  going  to  sleep  he  prayed  to 
Jupiter  to  send  him  a  sign  that  that  was  the  site 
meant  for  his  city.  In  the  morning  he  found 
standing  in  front  of  his  tent  a  wooden  statue  of  the 
goddess  Minerva,  also  called  Pallas.  The  figure 
was  three  cubits  high.  In  its  right  hand  it  held  a 
spear,  and  in  the  left,  a  distaff  and  spindle. 

This  was  the  Pal-la'di-um  of  Troy,  which  after- 
wards became  very  famous.  The  Trojans  believed 
that  it  had  been  sent  down  from  heaven,  and  that 
the  safety  of  their  city  depended  upon  its  preserva- 
tion. Hence  it  was  guarded  with  the  greatest  care 
in  a  temple  specially  built  for  the  purpose. 

Ilus,  being  satisfied  that  the  statue  was  the  sign 
for  which  he  had  prayed,  immediately  set  about 
building  his  city,  and  thus  Troy  was  founded.  It 
soon  became  the  capital  of  Troas  and  the  richest 
and  most  powerful  city  in  that  part  of  the  world. 
During  the  reign  of  Laomedon,  son  of  Ilus,  its 
mighty  walls  were  erected,  which  in  the  next  reign 
withstood  for  ten  years  all  the  assaults  of  the 
Greeks.  These  walls  were  the  work  of  no  human 


23 

hands.  They  were  built  by  the  ocean  god  Nep- 
tune. 'This  god  had  conspired  against  Jupiter  and 
attempted  to  dethrone  him,  and,  as  a  punishment, 
his  kingdom  of  the  sea  was  taken  away  from  him 
for  one  year,  and  he  was  ordered  to  spend  that  time 
in  the  service  of  the  king  of  Troy. 

In  building  the  great  walls,  Neptune  was  assisted 
by  Apollo,  who  had  also  been  driven  from  Olympus 
for  an  offense  against  Jupiter.  Apollo  had  a  son 
named  ^Es-cu-la'pi-us,  who  was  so  skilled  a  physi- 
cian that  he  could,  and  did,  raise  people  from  death 
to  life.  Jupiter  was  very  angry  at  this.  He  feared 
that  men  might  forget  him  and  worship  ^sculapius. 
He  therefore  hurled  a  thunderbolt  at  the  great 
physician  and  killed  him.  Enraged  at  the  death  of 
his  son,  Apollo  threatened  to  destroy  the  Cyclops, 
the  giant  workmen  of  Vulcan,  who  had  forged  the 
terrible  thunderbolt.  Before  he  could  carry  out  his 
threat,  however,  Jupiter  expelled  him  from  heaven. 
He  remained  on  earth  for  several  years,  after  which 
he  was  permitted  to  return  to  his  place  among  the 
gods  on  the  top  of  Mount  Olympus. 

Though  Neptune  was  bound  to  serve  Laomedon 
for  one  year,  there  was  an  agreement  between  them 
that  the  god  should  get  a  certain  reward  for  build- 
ing the  walls..  But  when  the  work  was  finished  the 
Trojan  king  refused  to  keep  his  part  of  the  bar- 


National  Museum^  Athens. 


NEPTUNE. 


25 

gain.  Apollo  had  assisted  by  his  powers  of  music. 
He  played  such  tunes  that  he  charmed  even  the 
huge  blocks  of  stone,  so  that  they  moved  themselves 
into  their  proper  places,  after  Neptune  had  wrenched 
them  from  the  mountain  sides  and  had  hewn  them 
into  shape.  Moreover,  Apollo  had  taken  care  of 
Laomedon's  numerous  flocks  on  Mount  Ida.  Dur- 
ing the  siege,  Neptune,  in  a  conversation  with 
Apollo  before  the  walls  of  Troy,  spoke  of  their 
labors  in  the  service  of  the  Trojan  king: 

"  Hast  thou  forgot,  how,  at  the  monarch's  prayer, 
We  shared  the  lengthen 'd  labors  of  a  year  ? 
Troy  walls  I  raised  (for  such  were  Jove's  commands), 
And  yon  proud  bulwarks  grew  beneath  my  hands: 
Thy  task  it  was  to  feed  the  bellowing  droves 
Along  fair  Ida's  vales  and  pendant  groves." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XXI. 

Long  before  this,  however,  the  two  gods  had 
punished  Laomedon  very  severely  for  breaking  his 
promise.  Apollo,  after  being  restored  to  heaven, 
sent  a  plague  upon  the  city  of  Troy,  and  Neptune 
sent  up  from  the  sea  an  enormous  serpent  which 
killed  many  of  the  people. 

A  great  serpent  from  the  deep, 
Lifting  his  horrible  head  above  their  homes, 
Devoured  the  children. 

LEWIS  MORRIS. 


26 

In  this  terrible  calamity  the  king  asked  an  oracle 
in  what  way  the  anger  of  the  two  gods  might  be 
appeased.  The  answer  of  the  oracle  was  that  a 
Trojan  maiden  must  each  year  be  given  to  the 
monster  to  be  devoured.  Every  year,  therefore, 
a  young  girl,  chosen  by  lot,  was  taken  down  to  the 
seashore  and  chained  to  a  rock  to  become  the  prey 
of  the  serpent.  And  every  year  the  monster  came 
and  swallowed  up  a  Trojan  maiden,  and  then  went 
away  and  troubled  the  city  no  more  until  the  fol- 
lowing year,  when  he  returned  for  another  victim. 
At  last  the  lot  fell  on  He-si'o-ne,  the  daughter  of 
the  king.  Deep  was  Laomedon's  grief  at  the 
thought  of  the  awful  fate  to  which  his  child  was 
thus  doomed. 

But  help  came  at  an  unexpected  moment.  While, 
amid  the  lamentations  of  her  family  and  friends, 
preparations  were  being  made  to  chain  Hesione  to 
the  rock,  the  great  hero,  Her'cu-les,  happened  to 
visit  Troy.  He  was  on  his  way  home  to  Greece, 
after  performing  in  a  distant  eastern  country  one  of 
those  great  exploits  which  made  him  famous  in 
ancient  story.  The  hero  undertook  to  destroy  the 
serpent,  and  thus  save  the  princess,  on  condition 
that  he  should  receive  as  a  reward  certain  wonder- 
ful horses  which  Laomedon  just  then  had  in  his 
possession.  These  horses  were  given  to  Laome- 


27 

don's  grandfather,  Tros,  on  a  very  interesting  occa- 
sion. Tros  had  a  son  named  Gan'y-mede,  a  youth 
of  wonderful  beauty,  and  Jupiter  admired  Gany- 
mede so  much  that  he  had  him  carried  up  to 
heaven  to  be  cupbearer  to  the  gods  —  to  serve  the 
divine  nectar  at  the  banquets  on  Mount  Olympus. 

Godlike  Ganymede,  most  beautiful 
Of  men;  the  gods  beheld  and  caught  him  up 
To  heaven,  so  beautiful  was  he,  to  pour 
The  wine  to  Jove,  and  ever  dwell  with  them. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XX. 

To  compensate  Tros  for  the  loss  of  his  son, 
Jupiter  gave  him  four  magnificent  horses  of  im- 
mortal breed  and  marvelous  fleetness.  These  were 
the  horses  which  Hercules  asked  as  his  reward  for 
destroying  the  serpent.  As  there  was  no  other  way 
of  saving  the  life  of  his  daughter,  Laomedon  con- 
sented. Hercules  then  went  down  to  the  seashore, 
bearing  in  his  hand  the  huge  club  which  he  usually 
carried,  and  wearing  his  lion-skin  over  his  shoulders. 
This  was  the  skin  of  a  fierce  lion  he  had  strangled 
to  death  in  a  forest  in  Greece,  and  he  always  wore 
it  when  going  to  perform  any  of  his  heroic  feats. 

When  Hesione  had  been  bound  to  the  rock,  the 
hero  stood  beside  her  and  awaited  the  coming  of 
the  serpent.  In  a  short  time  its  hideous  form 
emerged  from  beneath  the  waves<  and  darting  for- 


28 

ward  it  was  about  to  seize  the  princess,  when  Her- 
cules rushed  upon  it,  and  with  mighty  strokes  of 
his  club  beat  the  monster  to  death.  Thus  was  the 
king's  daughter  saved  and  all  Troy  delivered  from  a 
terrible  scourge.  But  when  the  hero  claimed  the 
reward  that  had  been  agreed  upon,  and  which  he 
had  so  well  earned,  Laomedon  again  proved  him- 
self to  be  a  man  who  was  neither  honest  nor  grate- 
ful. Disregarding  his  promise,  and  forgetful,  too, 
of  what  he  and  his  people  had  already  suffered  as  a 
result  of  his  breach  of  faith  with  the  two  gods, 
he  refused  to  give  Hercules  the  horses. 

The  hero  at  once  went  away  from  Troy,  but  not 
without  resolving  to  return  at  a  convenient  time 
and  punish  Laomedon.  This  he  did,  not  long  after- 
wards, when  he  had  completed  the  celebrated 
"  twelve  labors "  at  which  he  had  been  set  by  a 
Grecian  king,  whom  Jupiter  commanded  him  to 
serve  for  a  period  of  years  because  of  an  offense  he 
had  committed.  One  of  these  labors  was  the  killing 
of  the  lion.  Another  was  the  destroying  of  the 
Ler'nae-an  hydra,  a  frightful  serpent  with  many 
heads,  which  for  a  long  time  had  been  devouring 
man  and  beast  in  the  district  of  Ler'na  in  Greece. 

Having  accomplished  his  twelve  great  labors  and 
ended  his  term  of  service,  Hercules  collected  an 
army  and  a  fleet,  and  sailed  to  the  shores  of  Troas. 


29 

He  then  marched  against  the  city,  took  it  by  sur- 
prise, and  slew  Laomedon  and  all  his  sons,  with  the 
exception  of  Po-dar'ces,  afterwards  called  Priam. 
This  prince  had  tried  to  persuade  his  father  to  ful- 
fill the  engagement  with  Hercules,  for  which  reason 
his  life  was  spared.  He  was  made  a  slave,  how- 
ever, as  was  done  in  ancient  times  with  prisoners 
taken  in  war.  But  Hesione  ransomed  her  brother, 
giving  her  gold-embroidered  veil  as  the  price  of  his 
freedom.  From  this  time  he  was  called  Priam,  a 
word  which  in  the  Greek  language  means  "  pur- 
chased." Hesione  also  prevailed  upon  Hercules  to 
restore  Priam  to  his  right  as  heir  to  his  father's 
throne,  and  so  he  became  king  of  Troy.  Hesione 
herself  was  carried  off  to  Greece,  where  she  was 
given  in  marriage  to  Tera-mon,  king  of  Sal'a-mis, 
a  friend  of  Hercules. 

Priam  reigned  over  his  kingdom  of  Troas  many 
years  in  peace  and  prosperity.  His  wife  and  queen, 
the  virtuous  Hec'u-ba,  was  a  daughter  of  a  Thracian 
king.  They  had  nineteen  children,  many  of  whom 
became  famous  during  the  great  siege.  Their  eldest 
son,  Hec'tor,  was  the  bravest  of  the  Trojan  heroes. 
Their  son  Par'is  it  was,  as  we  shall  see,  who  brought 
upon  his  country  the  disastrous  war.  Another  son, 
Hel'e-nus,  and  his  sister  Cas-san'dra,  were  cele- 
brated soothsayers. 


30 

Cassandra  was  a  maiden  of  remarkable  beauty. 
The  god  Apollo  loved  her  so  much  that  he  offered 
to  grant  her  any  request  if  she  would  accept  him  as 
her  husband.  Cassandra  consented  and  asked  for 
the  power  of  foretelling  events,  but  when  she 
received  it,  she  slighted  the  god  and  refused  to 
perform  her  promise.  Apollo  was  enraged  at  her 
conduct,  yet  he  could  not  take  back  the  gift  he  had 
bestowed.  He  decreed,  however,  that  no  one  should 
believe  or  pay  any  attention  to  her  predictions,  true 
though  they  should  be.  And  so  when  Cassandra 
foretold  the  evils  that  were  to  come  upon  Troy,  even 
her  own  people  would  not  credit  her  words.  They 
spoke  of  her  as  the  "  mad  prophetess." 

Cassandra  cried,  and  cursed  the  unhappy  hour; 
Foretold  our  fate;  but  by  the  god's  decree, 
All  heard,  and  none  believed  the  prophecy. 

VERGIL. 

The  first  sorrow  in  the  lives  of  King  Priam  and 
his  good  queen  came  a  short  time  before  the  birth 
of  Paris,  when  Hecuba  dreamed  that  her  next  child 
would  bring  ruin  upon  his  family  and  native  city. 
This  caused  the  deepest  distress  to  Priam  and 
Hecuba,  especially  when  the  soothsayer  ^s'a-cus 
declared  that  the  dream  would  certainly  be  fulfilled. 
Then,  though  they  were  tender  and  loving  parents, 
they  made  up  their  minds  to  sacrifice  their  own  feel- 


ings  rather  than  that  such  a  caAamity  should  befall 
their  country.  When  the  child  was  born,  the  king, 
therefore,  ordered  it  to  be  given  to  Ar-che-la'us,  one 
of  the  shepherds  of  Mount  Ida,  with  instructions  to 
expose  it  in  a  place  where  it  might  be  destroyed  by 
wild  beasts.  The  shepherd,  though  very  unwilling 
to  do  so  cruel  a  thing,  was  obliged  to  obey,  but  on 
returning  to  the  spot  a  few  days  afterwards  he  found 
the  infant  boy  alive  and  unhurt.  Some  say  that  the 
child  had  been  nursed  and  carefully  tended  by  a 
she-bear.  Archelaus  was  so  touched  with  pity  at 
the  sight  of  the  innocent  babe  smiling  in  his  face, 
that  he  took  the  boy  to  his  cottage,  and,  giving  him 
the  name  Paris,  brought  him  up  as  one  of  his  own 
family. 

With  the  herdsmen  on  Mount  Ida,  Paris  spent 
his  early  years,  not  knowing  that  he  was  King 
Priam's  son.  He  was  a  brave  youth,  and  of  ex- 
ceeding beauty. 

"  His  sunny  hair 
Cluster'd  about  his  temples  like  a  god's." 

TENNYSON,  CEnone. 

He  was  skilled,  too,  in  all  athletic  exercises,  he 
was  a  bold  huntsman,  and  so  brave  in  defending 
the  shepherds  against  the  attacks  of  robbers  that 
they  called  him  Alexander,  a  name  which  means  a 
protector  of  men.  Thus  the  young  prince  became 


32 

a  favorite  with  the  people  who  lived  on  the  hills. 
Very  happy  he  was  amongst  them,  and  amongst 
the  flocks  which  his  good  friend  and  foster  father, 
•Archelaus,  gave  him  to  be  his  own.  He  was  still 
more  happy  in  the  company  of  the  charming  nymph 
CE-no'ne,  the  daughter  of  a  river  god ;  and  he  loved 
her  and  made  her  his  wife.  But  this  happiness  was 
destined  not  to  be  of  long  duration.  The  Fates* 
had  decreed  it  otherwise.  CEnone  the  beautiful, 
whose  sorrows  have  been  the  theme  of  many  poets, 
was  to  lose  the  love  of  the  young  shepherd  prince, 
and  the  dream  of  Hecuba  was  to  have  its  fulfillment. 

The  Fate 

That  rules  the  will  of  Jove  had  spun  the  days 
Of  Paris  and  GEnone. 

QUINTUS  SMYRN^US. 

*The  F.itcs  were  the  three  sisters,  Clo  tho,  Lach'e-sis,  and  At'ro-pos, 
powerful  goddesses  who  controlled  the  birth  and  life  of  mankind. 
Clotho,  the  youngest,  presided  over  the  moment  of  birth,  and  held  a 
distaff  in  her  hand;  Lachesis  spun  out  the  thread  of  human  existence 
(all  the  events  and  action's  of  man's  life);  and  Atropos,  with  a  pair  of 
shears  which  she  always  carried,  cut  this  thread  at  the  moment  of 
death. 


II.     THE  JUDGMENT  OF  PARIS. 

IT  was  through  a  quarrel  among  the  three  god- 
desses, Juno,  Venus,  and  Minerva,  that  CEnone,  the 
fair  nymph  of  Mount  Ida,  met  her  sad  fate,  and  that 
the  destruction  of  Troy  was  brought  about.  The 
strife  arose  on  the  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  Pe'leus 
and  The'tis.  Peleus  was  a  king  of  Thes'sa-ly,  in 
Greece,  and  one  of  the  great  heroes  of  those  days. 
Thetis  was  a  daughter  of  the  sea  god  Ne're-us,  who 
had  fifty  daughters,  all  beautiful  sea  nymphs,  called 
"  Ne-re'i-des,"  from  the  name  of  their  father.  Their 
duty  was  to  attend  upon  the  greater  sea  gods,  and 
especially  to  obey  the  orders  of  Neptune. 

Thetis  was  so  beautiful  that  Jupiter  himself  wished 
to  marry  her,  but  the  Fates  told  him  she  was  destined 
to  have  a  son  who  would  be  greater  than  his  father. 
The  king  of  heaven  having  no  desire  that  a  son  of 
his  should  be  greater  than  himself,  gave  up  the  idea 
of  wedding  the  fair  nymph  of  the  sea,  and  consented 
that  she  should  be  the  wife  of  Peleus,  who  had  long 
loved  and  wooed  her.  But  Thetis,  being  a  goddess, 
was  unwilling  to  marry  a  mortal  man.  However,  she 

STO.  OF  TROY  —  3  33 


34 

at  last  consented,  and  all  the  gods  and  goddesses,  with 
one  exception,  were  present  at  the  marriage  feast. 
For  in  the  elder  time,  when  truth  and  worth 
Were  still  revered  and  cherished  here  on  earth, 
The  tenants  of  the  skies  would  oft  descend 
To  heroes'  spotless  homes,  as  friend  to  friend; 
There  meet  them  face  to  face,  and  freely  share 
In  all  that  stirred  the  hearts  of  mortals  there. 

CATULLUS  (Martin's  tr.). 

The  one  exception  was  E'ris,  or  Dis-cor'di-a,  the 
goddess  of  discord.  This  evil-minded  deity  had  at 
one  time  been  a  resident  of  Olympus,  but  she  caused 
so  much  dissension  and  quarreling  there  that  Jupi- 
ter banished  her  forever  from  the  heavenly  mansions. 
The  presence  of  such  a  being  as  a  guest  on  so  happy 
an  occasion  was  not  very  desirable,  and  therefore  no 
invitation  was  sent  to  her. 

Thus  slighted,  the  goddess  of  discord  resolved  to 
have  revenge  by  doing  all  that  she  could  to  disturb 
the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  marriage  feast.  With 
this  evil  purpose  she  suddenly  appeared  in  the  midst 
of  the  company,  and  threw  on  the  table  a  beautiful 
golden  apple,  on  which  were  inscribed  the  words, 
"  Let  it  be  given  to  the  fairest." 

"  This  was  cast  upon  the  board, 
When  all  the  full-faced  presence  of  the  gods 
Ranged  in  the  halls  of  Peleus;  whereupon 
Rose  feud,  with  question  unto  whom  'twere  due." 

TENNYSON.  (Enone. 


35 

At  once  all  the  goddesses  began  to  claim  the 
glittering  prize  of  beauty.  Each  contended  that 
she  was  the  "fairest,"  and  therefore  should  have  the 

"  fruit  of  pure  Hesperian  gold 
That  smelt  ambrosially." 

But  soon  the  only  competitors  were  Juno,  Venus, 
and  Minerva,  the  other  goddesses  having  withdrawn 
their  claims.  The  contest  then  became  more  bitter, 
and  at  last  Jupiter  was  called  upon  to  act  as  judge 
in  the  dispute.  This  delicate  task  the  king  of 
heaven  declined  to  undertake.  He  knew  that  what- 
ever way  he  might  decide,  he  would  be  sure  to 
offend  two  of  the  three  goddesses,  and  thereby 
destroy  the  peace  of  his  own  household.  It  was 
necessary,  however,  that  an  umpire  should  be  chosen 
to  put  an  end  to  the  strife,  and  doubtless  it  was  the 
decree  of  the  Fates  that  the  lot  should  fall  on  the 
handsome  young  shepherd  of  Mount  Ida.  His  wis- 
dom and  prudence  were  well  known  to  the  gods, 
and  all  seemed  to  agree  that  he  was  a  fit  person  to 
decide  so  great  a  contest. 

Paris  was  therefore  appointed  umpire.  By  Jupi- 
ter's command  the  golden  apple  was  sent  to  him,  to 
be  given  to  that  one  of  the  three  goddesses  whom 
he  should  judge  to  be  the  most  beautiful.  The 
goddesses  themselves  were  directed  to  appear  before 


36 

him  on  Mount  Ida,  so  that,  beholding  their  charms, 
he  might  be  able  to  give  a  just  decision.  The 
English  poet,  Tennyson,  in  his  poem  "CEnone," 
gives  a  fine  description  of  the  three  contending 
deities  standing  in  the  presence  of  the  Trojan 
prince,  each  in  her  turn  trying,  by  promise  of  great 
reward,  to  persuade  him  to  declare  in  her  favor. 
Juno  spoke  first,  and  she  offered  to  bestow  kingly 
power  and  immense  wealth  upon  Paris,  if  he  would 
award  the  prize  to  her. 

"  She  to  Paris  made 
Proffer  of  royal  power,  ample  rule    - 

Unquestion'd 

'Honor,'  she  said,  'and  homage,  tax  and  toll, 
From  many  an  inland  town  and  haven  large.'  ' 

Minerva  next  addressed  the  judge,  and  she  prom- 
ised him  great  wisdom  and  knowledge,  as  well  as 
success  in  war,  if  he  would  give  the  apple  to  her. 

.Then  Venus  approached  the  young  prince,  who 
all  the  while  held  the  golden  prize  in  his  hand. 
She  had  but  few  words  to  say,  for  she  was  confident 
in  the  power  of  her  beauty  and  the  tempting  bribe 
she  was  about  to  offer. 

"  She  with  a  subtle  smile  in  her  mild  eyes, 
The  herald  of  her  triumph,  drawing  nigh 
Half-whisper'd  in  his  ear,  '  I  promise  thee 


37 

The  fairest  and  most  loving  wife  in  Greece.' 
She  spoke  and  laugh 'd." 

The  subtle  smile  and  the  whispered  promise  won 
the  heart  of  Paris.  Forgetful  of  GEnone,  and  disre- 
garding the  promises  of  the  other  goddesses,  he 
awarded  the  prize  to  Venus. 

He  consign'd 

To  her  soft  hand  the  fruit  of  burnished  rind; 
And  foam-born  Venus  grasp'd  the  graceful  meed, 
Of  war,  of  evil  war,  the  quickening  seed. 

COLUTHUS  (Elton's  tr.). 

Such  was  the  famous  judgment  of  Paris.  It  was 
perhaps  a  just  decision,  for  it  may  be  supposed 
that  Venus,  being  the  goddess  of  beauty,  was 
really  the  most  beautiful  of  the  three.  But  the 
story  does  not  give  us  a  very  high  idea  of  the 
character  of  Paris,  who  now  no  longer  took  pleas- 
ure in  the  company  of  CEnone.  All  his  thoughts 
and  affections  were  turned  away  from  her  by  the 
promise  of  Venus.  He  had  grown  weary,  too, 
of  his  simple  and  innocent  life  among  his  flocks 
and  herds  on  the  mountain.  He  therefore  wished 
much  for  some  adventure  that  would  take  him 
away  from  scenes  which  had  become  distasteful 
to  him. 

The  opportunity  soon  came.  A  member  of  King 
Priam's  family  having  died,  it  was  announced  that 


Vatican^  Rome, 
(38) 


PARIS. 


39 

the  funeral  would  be  celebrated  by  athletic  games, 
as  was  the  custom  in  ancient  times.  Paris  resolved 
to  go  down  to  the  city  and  take  part  in  these 
games.  Prizes  were  to  be  offered  for  competition, 
and  one  of  the  prizes  was  to  be  the  finest  bull  that 
could  be  picked  from  the  herds  on  Mount  Ida. 
Now  it  happened  that  the  bull  selected  belonged  to 
Paris  himself,  but  it  could  not  be  taken  without  his 
consent.  He  was  willing,  however,  to  give  it  for 
the  games  on  condition  that  he  should  be  permitted 
to  enter  the  list  of  competitors. 

The  condition  was  agreed  to,  and  so  the  shepherd 
prince  parted  from  CEnone  and  went  to  the  funeral 
games  at  Troy.  He  intended,  perhaps,  to  return 
sometime,  but  it  was  many  years  before  he  saw  the 
fair  nymph  of  Mount  Ida  again,  —  not  until  he  was 
about  to  die  of  a  wound  received  from  one  of  the 
Greeks  in  the  Trojan  War.  QEnone  knew  what  was 
to  happen,  for  Apollo  had  conferred  upon  her  the 
gift  of  prophecy,  and  she  warned  Paris  that  if  he 
should  go  away  from  her  he  would  bring  ruin  on 
himself  and  his  country,  telling  him  also  that  he 
would  seek  for  her  help  when  it  would  be  too  late 
to  save  him.  These  predictions,  as  we  shall  see, 
were  fulfilled.  GEnone's  grief  and  despair  in  her 
loneliness  after  the  departure  of  Paris  are  touch- 
ingly  described  in  Tennyson's  poem : 


40 

11  O  happy  Heaven,  how  canst  thou  see  my  face  ? 
O  happy  earth,  how  canst  thou  bear  my  weight  ? 

0  death,  death,  death,  thou  ever-floating  cloud, 
There  are  enough  unhappy  on  this  earth, 

Pass  by  the  happy  souls,  that  love  to  live: 

1  pray  thee,  pass  before  my  light  of  life, 
And  shadow  all  my  soul,  that  I  may  die. 
Thou  weighest  heavy  on  the  heart  within, 
Weigh  heavy  on  my  eyelids:  let  me  die." 

At  the  athletic  games  in  Troy  everybody  ad- 
mired the  noble  appearance  of  Paris,  but  nobody 
knew  who  he  was.  In  the  competitions  he  won  all 
the  first  prizes,  for  Venus  had  given  him  godlike 
strength  and  swiftness.  He  defeated  even  Hector, 
who  was  the  greatest  athlete  of  Troy.  Hector, 
angry  at  finding  himself  and  all  the  highborn 
young  men  of  the  city  beaten  by  an  unknown 
stranger,  resolved  to  put  him  to  death,  and  Paris 
would  probably  have  been  killed,  had  he  not  fled  for 
safety  into  the  temple  of  Jupiter.  Cassandra,  who 
happened  to  be  in  the  temple  at  the  time,  noticed 
Paris  closely,  and  observing  that  he  bore  a  strong 
resemblance  to  her  brothers,  she  asked  him  about 
his  birth  and  age.  From  his  answers  she  was  satis- 
fied that  he  was  her  brother,  and  she  at  once  intro- 
duced him  to  the  king.  Further  inquiries  were 
then  made.  The  old  shepherd,  Archelaus,  to  whom 
Paris  had  been  delivered  in  his  infancy  to  be  ex- 


41 

posed  on  Mount  Ida,  was  still  living,  and  he  came 
and  told  his  story.  Then  King  Priam  and  Queen 
Hecuba  joyfully  embraced  and  welcomed  their  son, 
never  thinking  of  the  terrible  dream  or  of  the 
prophecy  of  yEsacus.  Hector,  no  longer  angry  or 
jealous,  was  glad  to  see  his  brother,  and  proud  of 
his  victories  in  the  games.  Everybody  rejoiced 
except  Cassandra.  She  knew  the  evil  which 
was  to  come  to  Troy  through  Paris,  but  nobody 
would  give  credit  to  what  the  "  mad  prophetess " 
said. 

Thus  restored  to  his  high  position  as  a  prince  of 
the  royal  house  of  Troy,  Paris  now  resided  in  his 
father's  palace,  apparently  contented  and  happy. 
But  the  promise  made  to  him  on  Mount  Ida,  which 
he  carefully  concealed  from  his  family,  was  always 
in  his  mind.  His  thoughts  were  ever  turned  toward 
Greece,  where  dwelt  the  fairest  woman  of  those 
times.  This  was  Helen,  wife  of  Men-e-la'us,  king 
of  Spar'ta,  celebrated  throughout  the  ancient  world 
for  her  matchless  beauty.  Paris  had  been  promised 
the  fairest  woman  for  his  wife,  and  he  felt  sure  that 
it  could  be  no  other  than  the  far-famed  Helen.  To 
Greece  therefore  he  resolved  to  go,  as  soon  as  there 
should  be  an  excuse  for  undertaking  what  was  then 
a  long  and  dangerous  voyage  of  many  weeks,  though 
in  our  day  it  is  no  more  than  a  few  hours'  sail. 


42 

The  occasion  was  found  when  King  Priam  re- 
solved to  send  ambassadors  to  the  island  of  Salamis 
to  demand  the  restoration  of  his  sister  Hesione, 
whom  Hercules  had  carried  off  many  years  before. 
Her  husband,  Telamon,  was  now  dead,  but  his  son 
A'jax  still  held  her  as  a  prisoner  at  his  court.  Priam 
had  never  forgotten  his  sister's  love  for  himself,  for 
she  it  was,  as  will  be  remembered,  who  redeemed  him 
from  slavery  and  placed  him  on  his  father's  throne. 
He  now  determined  that  she  should  be  brought 
back  to  her  native  country,  and  Paris  earnestly 
begged  permission  to  take  charge  of  the  expedition 
which  was  to  be  sent  to  Salamis  for  that  purpose. 
Priam  consented,  and  a  fleet  worthy  to  convey  the 
son  of  the  king  of  Troy  and  his  retinue  to  Greece 
was  built  by  Pher'e-clus,  a  skillful  Trojan  craftsman, 
whom  the  goddess  Minerva  (Pallas)  had  instructed 
in  all  kinds  of  workmanship. 

For  loved  by  Pallas,  Pallas  did  impart 
To  him  the  shipwright's  and  the  builder's  art. 
Beneath  his  hand  the  fleet  of  Paris  rose, 
The  fatal  cause  of  all  his  country's  woes. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

Before  the  departure  of  the  fleet,  Cassandra 
raised  her  voice  of  warning,  but  as  usual  her 
words  were  not  heeded,  and  so  Paris  set  sail.  He 
reached  the  shores  of  Greece  in  safety ;  but  instead 


43 

of  proceeding  to  Salamis  to  demand  Hesione  from 
King  Ajax,  he  steered  his  vessels  to  the  coast  of 
Sparta.  This  he  did  under  the  guidance  and  direction 
of  Venus,  who  was  now  about  to  fulfill  the  promise 
by  which  she  had  won  the  golden  prize  on  Mount  Ida. 

Landing  in  Sparta,  Paris  hastened  to  the  court  of 
Menelaus,  where  he  was  hospitably  received.  The 
king  gave  banquets  in  his  honor  and  invited  him  to 
prolong  his  stay  in  Sparta,  and  the  beautiful  Queen 
Helen  joined  in  her  husband's  kind  attentions  to 
their  guest. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Paris,  the  king  of  Sparta 
received  an  invitation  to  take  part  in  a  hunting  expe- 
dition in  the  island  of  Crete.  Having  no  suspicion 
of  the  evil  design  of  Paris,  he  accepted  the  invita- 
tion. He  departed  for  Crete,  leaving  to  his  queen 
the  duty  of  entertaining  the  Trojan  prince  until  his 
return.  Then  Paris,  taking  advantage  of  the  ab- 
sence of  Menelaus,  induced  Helen  to  desert  her 
husband  and  her  home,  and  go  with  him  to  Troy. 
He  told  her  of  the  promise  of  Venus,  and  assured 
her  that  she  would  be  received  with  great  honor  in 
his  father's  palace,  and  protected  against  the  anger 
of  Menelaus. 

From  her  husband's  stranger-sheltering  home 
He  tempted  Helen  o'er  the  ocean  foam. 

COLUTHUS  (Elton's  tr.). 


Painting  by  Dcutsck. 


(44) 


ABDUCTION  OF  HELEN. 


45 

Helen  having  consented,  Paris  carried  her  off  in 
his  fleet.  At  the  same  time  he  carried  away  a  vast 
quantity  of  treasure  in  gold  and  other  costly  things 
which  belonged  to  King  Menelaus.  On  the  voyage 
homeward  the  ships  were  driven  by  a  storm  to  the 
shores  of  the  island  of  Cran'a-e,  where  Paris  and 
Helen  remained  for  some  time.  When  at  last 
they  reached  the  Trojan  capital  they  were  cordially 
welcomed  by  King  Priam  and  Queen  Hecuba,  and 
in  a  short  time  they  were  married,  and  the  event 
was  celebrated  with  great  rejoicing. 

But  all  the  people  of  Troy  did  not  take  part  in 
this  rejoicing.  Hector,  the  son  of  Priam,  and  others 
of  his  wisest  counselors,  strongly  censured  the  con- 
duct of  Paris,  and  they  advised  the  king  to  send 
Helen  back  to  Sparta.  But  Priam  would  not  listen 
to  their  prudent  advice,  and  so  she  remained  in 
Troy. 

The  great  beauty  of  Helen  has  been  celebrated 
-by  poets  in  ancient  and  modern  times.  Tennyson, 
in  his  "  Dream  of  Fair  Women,"  introduces  her  as 
one  of  the  forms  of  the  vision  he  describes : 

"  I  saw  a  lady  within  call, 
Stiller  than  chisell'd  marble,  standing  there; 
A  daughter  of  the  gods,  divinely  tall, 
And  most  divinely  fair." 


III.  THE  LEAGUE  AGAINST  TROY. 

The  carrying  off  of  Helen  was  the  cause  of  the 
Trojan  War.  Menelaus,  upon  hearing  what  Paris 
had  done,  immediately  returned  to  Sparta,  and 
began  to  make  preparations  to  avenge  the  wrong. 
He  called  upon  the  other  kings  and  princes  of 
Greece  to  join  him  with  their  armies  and  fleets  in  a 
war  against  Troy.  They  were  bound  to  do  this  by 
an  oath  they  had  taken  at  the  time  of  the  marriage 
of  Helen  and  Menelaus. 

Helen  was  ,the  daughter  of  Tyn'da-rus,  who  was 
king  of  Sparta  before  Menelaus.  Some  say  that 
she  was  the  daughter  of  Jupiter,  and  that  Tyndarus 
was  her  stepfather.  But  from  her  infancy  she  was 
brought  up  at  the  royal  palace  of  Sparta  as  the 
daughter  of  Tyndarus  and  his  wife,  Le'da.  When 
she  became  old  enough  to  marry,  the  fame  of  her 
great  beauty  drew  many  of  the  young  princes  of 
Greece  to  Sparta,  all  competing  for  her  favor,  and 
each  hoping  to  win  her  for  his  wife.  This  placed 
Tyndarus  in  a  difficulty.  He  was  alarmed  at  the 
sight  of  so  many  suitors  for  the  hand  of  his 


47 

daughter,  for  he  knew  that  he  could  not  give  her  to 
one  without  offending  all  the  rest.  He  therefore 
resolved  to  adopt  the  advice  of  Ulysses,  the  prince 
of  Ith'a-ca  (an  island  on  the  west  coast  of  Greece). 
Ulysses,  also  named  O-dys'seus,  was  famed  for  great 
wisdom  as  well  as  valor  in  war. 

Ulysses,  man  of  many  arts, 
Son  of  Laertes,  reared  in  Ithaca, 
That  rugged  isle,  and  skilled  in  every  form 
Of  shrewd  device  and  action  wisely  planned. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

Ulysses -had  himself  been  one  of  the  suitors  for 
Helen,  but  he  saw  that  among  so  many  competitors 
he  had  little  chance  of  success.  Besides,  he  had 
fallen  in  love  with  Pe-nel'o-pe,  the  niece  of  Tyn- 
darus. He  therefore  withdrew  from  the  contest, 
and  he  offered  to  suggest  a  plan  for  settling  the 
difficulty  about  Helen,  if  Tyndarus  would  give  him 
Penelope  to  be  his  wife.  Tyndarus  consented. 
Ulysses  then  advised  that  Helen  should  choose 
for  herself  which  of  the  princes  she  would  have 
for  her  husband,  but  that  before  she  did  so,  all 
the  suitors  should  pledge  themselves  by  oath  to 
submit  to  her  decision,  and  engage  that  if  any 
one  should  take  her  away  from  the  husband  of 
her  choice,  they  would  all  join  in  punishing  the 
offender. 


48 

If  any  dared  to  seize  and  bear  her  off, 
All  would  unite  in  arms,  and  lay  his  town 
Level  with  the  ground. 

EURIPIDES  (Potter's  tr.). 

The  Grecian  princes  consented  to  this  proposal 
They  all,  including  Ulysses  himself,  took  the 
required  oath.  Helen  then  made  choice  of  Mene- 
laus,  to  whom  she  was  immediately  married  with 
great  pomp  and  popular  rejoicing.  On  the  death 
of  Tyndarus,  Menelaus  became  king  of  Sparta,  and 
he  and  his  beautiful  queen  lived  and  reigned 
together  in  prosperity  and  happiness  until  the  ill- 
fated  visit  of  Paris. 

Menelaus  was  the  brother  of  Ag-a-mem'non, 
king  of  My-ce'nae,  one  of  the  most  powerful  and 
wealthy  of  the  kings  of  Hel'las,  as  Greece  was 
anciently  called.  Their  father,  A'treus,  was  a  son 
of  the  hero  Pe'lops,  who  conquered  the  greater  part 
of  the  peninsula  named  from  him  the  Pel-o-pon- 
ne'sus,  and  who  was  the  grandson  of  Jupiter. 
Agamemnon,  or  A-tri'des  (son  of  Atreus),  as  he  is 
often  called,  was  commander  in  chief  of  all  the 
Greek  armies  during  the  siege  of  Troy.  From  his 
high  rank  and  authority  Homer  calls  him  the 
"  king  of  men "  and  the  "  king  of  kings."  He 
is  sometimes  also  called  "  king  of  all  Ar'gos,"  a 
powerful  kingdom  near  Mycenae,  and  from  this 
name  the  Greeks  are  sometimes  called  "  Ar'gives.' 


49 

The  royal  scepter  which  Agamemnon  bore  in  his 
hands  when  addressing  his  soldiers  was  made  by 
Vulcan  for  Jupiter. 

The  king  of  kings  his  awful  figure  raised; 
High  in  his  hand  the  golden  sceptre  blazed; 
The  golden  sceptre,  of  celestial  flame, 
By  Vulcan  formed,  from  Jove  to  Hermes  came: 
To  Pelops  he  the  immortal  gift  resign'd; 
The  immortal  gift  great  Pelops  left  behind. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

The  kings  and  princes  of  Hellas,  who  met  at  the 
call  of  Menelaus,  decided,  after  some  discussion  of 
the  matter,  that  before  declaring  war  against  Troy 
it  would  be  well  to  try  to  obtain  satisfaction  by 
peaceful  means.  They  therefore  sent  ambassadors 
to  Troy  to  demand  the  restoration  of  Helen  and  the 
treasures  which  Paris  had  carried  off.  Di'o-mede, 
king  of  v^E-to'lia,  and  the  wise  Ulysses,  were  chosen 
for  this  mission.  Menelaus  volunteered  to  accom- 
pany them,  thinking  that  he  might  be  able  to  per- 
suade his  wife  to  return  to  her  home. 

When  the  Greek  ambassadors  arrived  in  the 
Trojan  capital  they  were  respectfully  received  by 
the  king.  During  their  stay  in  the  city  they  were 
entertained  at  the  residence  of  An-te'nor,  one  of 
Priam's  ministers  of  state,  who  had  the  wisdom 
to  disapprove  of  the  action  of  Paris,  and  to 

STO.   OF  TROY  —  4 


50 

advise  that  the  Spartan  queen  should  be  given 
back  to  her  husband.  Antenor  much  admired  the 
appearance  and  eloquence  of  Ulysses,  which  are  thus 
described  in  the  Iliad: 

"  But  when  Ulysses  rose,  in  thought  profound, 
His  modest  eyes  he  fixed  upon  the  ground; 
As  one  unskilled  or  dumb,  he  seem'd  to  stand, 
Nor  raised  his  head,  nor  stretch'd  his  sceptred  hand; 
But,  when  he  speaks,  what  elocution  flows! 
Soft  as  the  fleeces  of  descending  snows, 
The  copious  accents  fall,  with  easy  art; 
Melting  they  fall,  and  sink  into  the  heart!  " 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

But  the  eloquence  of  Ulysses  was  of  no  avail. 
King  Priam,  blinded  by  his  love  for  his  son,  saw 
not  the  threatened  danger,  and  he  refused  the  de- 
mand of  the  ambassadors.  Menelaus  was  not  even 
permitted  to  see  his  wife.  Ulysses  and  his  com- 
panions then  returned  to  Greece,  and  at  once 
preparations  for  war  with  Troy  were  commenced. 

These  preparations  occupied  a  very  long  time. 
Ten  years  were  spent  in  getting  together  the  vast 
force,  which  in  more  than  a  thousand  ships  was 
carried  across  the  ^gean  Sea  to  the  Trojan  shores, 
from  the  port  of  Au'lis  on  the  east  coast  of  Greece. 
Some  of  the  Hel-len'ic  (Greek)  princes  were  very 
unwilling  to  join  the  expedition,  as  they  knew  that 


the  struggle  would  be  a  tedious  and  perilous  one. 
Even  Ulysses,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  had  first  pro- 
posed the  suitors'  oath  at  Sparta,  was  at  the  last 
moment  unwilling  to  go.  He  had  now  become 
king  of  Ithaca,  his  father,  La-er'tes,  having  retired 
from  the  cares  of  government,  and  he  would  gladly 
have  remained  in  his  happy  island  home  with  his 
young  wife,  Penelope,  and  his  infant  son,  Te- 
lem'a-chus,  both  of  whom  he  tenderly  loved. 

But  the  man  of  many  arts  could  not  be  spared 
from  the  Trojan  War.  He  paid  no  heed,  however, 
to  the  messages  sent  to  him  asking  him  to  join  the 
army  at  Aulis.  Agamemnon  resolved,  therefore,  to 
go  himself  to  Ithaca  to  persuade  Ulysses  to  take  part 
in  the  expedition.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
brother  Menelaus,  and  by  a  chief  named  Pal-a-me'des, 
a  very  wise  and  learned  man  as  well  as  a  brave 
warrior.  As  soon  as  Ulysses  heard  of  their  arrival 
in  Ithaca,  he  pretended  to  be  insane,  and  he  tried 
by  a  very  amusing  stratagem  to  make  them  believe 
that  he  was  really  mad.  Dressing  himself  in  his 
best  clothes,  and  going  down  to  the  seashore,  he 
began  to  plow  the  beach  with  a  horse  and  an  ox 
yoked  together,  and  to  scatter  salt  upon  the  sand 
instead  of  seed. 

Palamedes,  however,  was  more  than  a  match  in 
artifice  for  the  Ithacan  king.  Taking  Telemachus 


(53) 


53 

from  the  arms  of  his  nurse,  he  placed  the  infant  on 
the  sand  in  front  of  the  plowing  team.  Ulysses 
quickly  turned  the  animals  aside  to  avoid  injuring 
his  child,  thus  proving  that  he  was  not  mad  but  in 
full  possession  of  his  senses.  The  king  of  Ithaca 
was  therefore  obliged  to  join  the  expedition  to  Troy. 
With  twelve  ships  well  manned  he  sailed  from  his 
rugged  island,  which  he  did  not  again  see  for  twenty 
years.  Ten  years  he  spent  at  the  siege,  and  ten  on 
his  homeward  voyage,  during  which  he  met  with 
the  wonderful  adventures  that  Homer  describes  in 
the  Odyssey. 

Ulysses  had  his  revenge  upon  Palamedes  in  a 
manner  very  unworthy  of  a  brave  man.  In  the 
camp  before  Troy,  during  the  siege,  he  bribed  one 
of  the  servants  of  Palamedes  to  conceal  a  sum  of 
money  in  his  master's  tent.  He  then  forged  a  letter, 
which  he  read  before  a  council  of  the  Greek  generals, 
saying  that  Palamedes  had  taken  it  from  a  Trojan 
prisoner.  This  letter  was  written  as  if  by  King 
Priam  to  Palamedes,  thanking  him  for  the  infor- 
mation he  had  given  regarding  the  plans  of  the 
Greeks,  and  mentioning  money  as  having  been 
sent  him  in  reward  for  his  services.  The  Greek 
generals  at  once  ordered  a  search  to  be  made  in  the 
tent  of  Palamedes,  and  the  money  being  found 
where  it  had  been  hidden  by  direction  of  Ulysses, 


54 

the  unfortunate  Palamedes  was  immediately  put  to 
death   as   a  traitor. 

Palamedes,  not  unknown  to  fame, 

Who  suffered  from  the  malice  of  the  times, 

Accused  and  sentenced  for  pretended  crimes. 

VERGIL. 

It  is  said  that  Palamedes  was  the  inventor  of 
weights  and  measures,  and  of  the  games  of  chess 
and  backgammon,  and  that  it  was  he  who  first 
placed  sentinels  round  a  camp  and  gave  them  a 
watchword. 

There  was  another  of  the  Greek  princes  whose 
help  in  the  Trojan  War  was  obtained  only  by  an 
ingenious  trick.  This  was  the  famous  A-chil'les. 
He  was  the  son  of  Peleus  and  Thetis,  at  whose 
marriage  feast  Eris  threw  the  apple  of  discord  on 
the  table.  The  prophecy  that  Thetis  would  have  a 
son  greater  than  his  father  was  fulfilled  in  Achilles, 
the  bravest  of  the  Greeks  at  the  Trojan  War,  and 
the  principal  hero  of  Homer's  Iliad. 

Thetis  educated  her  son  with  great  care.  She 
had  him  instructed  in  all  the  accomplishments  fitting 
for  princes  of  those  times.  When  he  was  an  infant 
she  dipped  him  in  the  river  Styx,  which,  it  was  be- 
lieved, made  it  impossible  for  any  weapon  wielded 
by  mortal  hands  to  wound  him.  But  the  water  did 
not  touch  the  child's  heel  by  which  his  mother  held 


55 

him  when  she  plunged  him  in  the  river,  and  it  was 
in  this  part  that  he  received  the  wound  of  which  he 
died. 

Notwithstanding  his  being  dipped  in  the  Styx, 
Thetis  was  afraid  to  let  Achilles  go  to  the  Trojan 
War,  for  Jupiter  had  told  her  that  he  would  be  killed 
if  he  took  part  in  it.  For  this  reason,  as  soon  as 
she  heard  that  the  Grecian  princes  were  gathering 
their  forces,  she  secretly  sent  the  youth  to  the  court 
of  Lyc-o-me'des,  king  of  the  island  of  Scy'ros. 
Here  Achilles,  dressed  like  a  young  girl,  resided  as 
a  companion  of  the  king's  daughters.  But  Cal'chas, 
the  soothsayer  of  the  Grecian  army,  told  the  chiefs 
that  without  the  help  of  Achilles  Troy  could  not  be 
taken. 

Calchas  the  wise,  the  Grecian  priest  and  guide, 
That  sacred  seer,  whose  comprehensive  view, 
The  past,  the  present,  and  the  future  knew. 

POPE.  Iliad*  Book  I. 

Calchas,  however,  could  not  tell  where  Achilles 
was  to  be  found,  and  when  they  applied  to  Peleus, 
he  too  was  unable  or  unwilling  to  tell  them. 
In  this  difficulty  the  wily  king  of  Ithaca  did 
good  service.  After  much  inquiry  he  discovered 
that  Achilles  was  at  Scyros  with  the  king's  daugh- 
ters. He  soon  made  his  way  to  the  island,  but  here 
there  was  a  new  difficulty.  He  had  never  seen  the 


fainting  by  Battoni. 

ACHILLES  AT  THE  COURT  OF  LYCOMEDES. 
(56) 


57 

young  prince,  and  how  was  he  to  know  him  ?  But 
he  devised  a  scheme  which  proved  entirely  success- 
ful. Equipping  himself  as  a  peddler,  he  went  to  the 
royal  palace,  exhibiting  jewelry  and  other  fancy 
articles  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  ladies  of  the 
family.  He  also  had  some  beautiful  weapons  of 
war  among  his  wares. 

As  soon  as  he  appeared,  the  maidens  gathered 
about  him  and  began  examining  the  jewels.  But 
one  of  the  group  eagerly  seized  a  weapon,  and 
handled  it  with  much  skill  and  pleasure.  Satisfied 
that  this  was  the  young  prince  of  whom  he  was 
in  search,  the  pretended  peddler  announced  his 
name  and  told  why  he  had  come.  Achilles,  for  it 
was  he,  gladly  agreed  to  take  part  with  his  country- 
men in  their  great  expedition,  and  he  immediately 
returned  to  Phthi'a,  the  capital  of  his  father's  king- 
dom of  Thessaly.  There  he  lost  no  time  in  making 
all  necessary  preparations.  Soon  afterwards  he 
sailed  for  Aulis  with  the  brave  Myr'mi-dons,  as  his 
soldiers  were  called,  accompanied  also  by  his  de- 
voted friend  and  constant  companion,  Pa-tro'clus. 

Full  fifty  ships  beneath  Achilles'  care, 
The  Achaians,  Myrmidons,  Hellenians  bear; 
Thessalians  all,  though  various  in  their  name; 
The  same  their  nation,  and  their  chief  the  same. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 


58 

Agamemnon,  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  great 
host,  sailed  with  a  hundred  ships  from  his  kingdom 
of  Mycenae,  and  his  brother  Menelaus,  eager  for 
vengeance  upon  the  Trojans,  sailed  with  sixty  ships 
and  a  strong  force  of  brave  Spartans. 

Great  Agamemnon  rules  the  numerous  band, 
A  hundred  vessels  in  long  order  stand, 
And  crowded  nations  wait  his  dread  command. 
Kigh  on  the  deck  the  king  of  men  appears, 
And  his  refulgent  arms  in  triumph  wears ; 
Proud  of  his  host,  unrivall'd  in  his  reign, 
In  silent  pomp  he  moves  along  the  main. 

His  brother  follows,  and  to  vengeance  warms, 
The  hardy  Spartans,  exercised  in  arms: 

These,  o'er  the  bending  ocean,  Helen's  cause, 
In  sixty  ships  with  Menelaus  draws. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

Among  the  other  great  warriors  of  Hellas  who 
joined  the  expedition  was  Nes'tor,  the  venerable 
king  of  Py'los,  distinguished  for  his  eloquence,  wis- 
dom, and  prudence. 

In  ninety  sail,  from  Pylos'  sandy  coast, 
Nestor  the  sage  conducts  his  chosen  host. 

I'OPK,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

The  ancients  believed  that  Nestor  outlived 
three  generations  of  men,  which  some  suppose 
to  have  been  three  hundred  years.  From  this 


59 

it  was  a  custom  of  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
Romans,  when  wishing  a  long  and  happy  life  to 
their  friends,  to  wish  them  to  live  as  long  as 
Nestor. 

Experienced  Nestor,  in  persuasion  skill'd; 
Words,  sweet  as  honey,  from  his  lips  distill'd; 
Two  generations  now  had  pass'd  away, 
Wise  by  his  rules,  and  happy  by  his  sway; 
Two  ages  o'er  his  native  realm  he  reign'd, 
And  now  the  example  of  the  third  remain'd. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

The  two  Ajaxes  were  also  renowned  warriors  of 
the  Grecian  army, —  Ajax  Telamon  and  Ajax 
O-i'leus,  so  called  from  the  names  of  their  fathers. 
Telamon  was  the  king  of  Salamis,  to  whom,  as  has 
been  told,  Hercules  gave  Laomedon's  daughter, 
Hesione.  His  son  Ajax,  a  man  of  huge  stature 
and  giant  strength,  was,  next  to  Achilles,  the 
bravest  of  all  the  Greeks  who  went  to  the  Trojan 
War. 

With  these  appear  the  Salaminian  bands, 

Whom  the  gigantic  Telamon  commands; 

In  twelve  black  ships  to  Troy  they  steer  their  course, 

And  with  the  great  Athenians  join  their  force. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

Ajax  Oileus,  king  of  Lo'cris,  was  less  in  stature 
than  his  namesake,  but  few  excelled  him  in  the  use 


6o 

of   the   spear   or   in   swiftness  of   foot.     He  com- 
manded forty  ships  in  the  great  expedition. 

Fierce  Ajax  led  the  Locrian  squadrons  on, 
Ajax  the  less,  Oileus'  valiant  son; 
Skill'd  to  direct  the  flying  dart  aright; 
Swift  in  pursuit,  and  active  in  the  fight. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

Two  other  valiant  warriors,  who  led  eighty  ships 
each  to  the-  great  muster,  were  Diomede,  king  of 
Argos,  and  I-dom'e-neus,  king  of  Crete, —  the 
"  spear-renowned  Idomeneus." 

Crete's  hundred  cities  pour  forth  all  her  sons. 
These  march'd,  Idomeneus,  beneath  thy  care. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

When  at  length  all  the  kings  and  princes  were 
assembled  at  Aulis,  the  vast  fleet  numbered  1185 
ships,  according  to  the  account  given  by  Homer. 
The  total  number  of  men  which  the  ships  carried 
is  not  known,  but  it  is  probable  that  it  was  not  less 
than  100,000,  as  the  largest  of  the  vessels  contained 
about  1 20,  and  the  smallest  50  men  each. 

Such  was  the  mighty  host  that  Hellas  marshaled 
to  punish  Troy  for  the  crime  committed  by  Paris. 
Before  setting  out  on  so  important  an  expedition 
the  Greek  chiefs  deemed  it  proper,  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  ancients,  to  offer  sacrifices  to  the 


6i 

gods,  that  their  undertaking  might  have  the  favor 
of  heaven.  Altars  were  therefore  erected,  and  the 
sacred  services  were  carried  out  in  due  order.  On 
these  occasions  animals  —  very  frequently  oxen  — 
were  killed,  and  portions  of  their  flesh  consumed 
by  fire,  such  sacrifices  being  supposed  to  be  very 
pleasing  to  the  gods. 

While  the  Grecian  chiefs  were  engaged  in  their 
religious  ceremonies,  the  greater  part  of  the  army 
having  already  gone  aboard  the  ships,  they  were 
startled  at  beholding  a  serpent  dart  out  from 
beneath  one  of  the  altars,  and,  gliding  along  the 
ground,  ascend  a  plane  tree  which  grew  close  by. 
At  the  top  of  the  tree  was  a  nest  containing  eight 
young  birds.  The  serpent  devoured  them,  and 
immediately  afterwards  seized  and  devoured  the 
mother  bird,  which  had  been  fluttering  around  the 
nest.  Then  suddenly,  before  the  eyes  of  the  aston- 
ished Greeks,  the  reptile  turned  into  stone.  Amazed 
at  this  occurrence,  and  believing  it  to  have  some 
connection  with  their  expedition,  the  assembled 
chiefs  asked  the  soothsayer  Calchas  to  explain 
what  it  meant.  The  seer  replied,  telling  them  that 
it  was  a  sign  that  the  war  upon  which  they  were 
about  to  enter  would  last  ten  years. 

"  For  us,  indeed,"  said  he,  "  Jupiter  has  shown  a 
great  sign.  As  this  serpent  has  devoured  the 


62 

young  of  the  sparrow,  eight  in  number,  and  herself, 
the  mother  of  the  brood,  was  the  ninth,  so  must  we 
for  as  many  years  wage  war,  but  in  the  tenth  year 
we  shall  take  the  city." 

This  story  was  eloquently  told  by  Ulysses  in  the 
Greek  camp  before  Troy,  when  in  the  tenth  year  of 
the  siege,  many  of  the  troops,  having  grown  weary 
of  the  war,  desired  to  return  to  their  homes. 


IV.     BEGINNING  OF  THE  WAR. 

THE  Greek  chiefs,  nothing  daunted  by  the  words 
of  Calchas,  now  set  sail  with  their  immense  fleet. 
Though  the  war  was  to  be  a  long  one,  they  were 
encouraged  by  the  prophecy  that  they  were  to  be 
the  conquerors. 

Their  first  experience  was  not  very  fortunate. 
They  safely  crossed  the  ^Egean  Sea,  but  instead 
of  steering  for  Troy,  the  pilots,  through  either 
ignorance  or  mistake,  brought  the  vessels  to  the 
shore  on  the  coast  of  Teu-thra'ni-a,  a  district  in  the 
kingdom  of  Mys'i-a,  lying  southeast  of  Troas.  Here 
the  Greeks  landed,  but  they  were  at  once  attacked 
by  Tel'e-phus,  the  king  of  that  country,  who  came 
down  upon  them  with  a  strong  force,  and  drove 
them  back  to  their  ships  after  a  battle  in  which 
many  of  them  were  killed.  They  would  probably 
have  fared  much  worse  had  it  not  been  for  the 
friendly  aid  of  Bac'chus,  the  god  of  wine.  While 
Telephus  wras  fighting  at  the  head  of  his  men  he 
tripped  and  fell  over  a  vine,  which  the  god  had 
caused  to  spring  up  suddenly  from  the  earth  at  his 

63 


64 

feet.  As  he  lay  flat  on  the  ground  Achilles  rushed 
forward  and  severely  wounded  him  with  a  thrust  of 
his  spear. 

The  Greeks,  however,  were  obliged  to  take  to 
the  sea,  and  soon  afterward  a  great  storm  arose, 
which  destroyed  many  of  their  vessels.  Owing  to 
this  misfortune  they  had  to  return  to  Aulis,  where 
they  set  about  repairing  their  damaged  ships  and 
getting  ready  to  start  again.  While  the  Greeks 
were  thus  engaged,  they  were  surprised  by  the 
appearance  of  King  Telephus,  who  came  to  their 
camp  to  beg  Achilles  to  cure  his  wound,  an 
oracle  he  had  consulted  having  told  him  that  he 
could  be  cured  only  by  the  person  who  had  wounded 
him. 

Achilles  was  at  first  unwilling  to  comply  with 
the  request  of  Telephus,  but  Ulysses  advised  him 
to  do  so.  Telephus  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Her- 
cules, and  it  had  been  decreed  that  without  the 
help  of  a  son  of  that  hero  Troy  could  not  be  taken. 
Moreover,  he  was  a  son-in-law  of  Priam,  and  his 
country  lay  close  to  where  the  war  was  to  be  car- 
ried on.  For  these  reasons  Ulysses  wished  to 
make  him  friendly  to  the  Greeks,  and  so  he  per- 
suaded Achilles  to  cure  the  Teuthranian  king. 
Achilles  did  this  by  dropping  into  the  wound  por- 
tions of  the  rust  from  the  point  of  his  spear. 


65 

Telephus  was  so  grateful  that  he  joined  the  expe- 
dition against  Troy,  and  undertook  to  pilot  the 
Grecian  fleet  to  the  Trojan  coast. 

But  another  difficulty  now  stood  in  the  way 
of  the  Greeks.  Their  fleet  was  once  more  ready 
for  departure,  but  the  winds  were  unfavorable. 
In  ancient  times  they  could  not  make  a  sea 
voyage  when  the  winds  were  against  them.  Their 
ships  were  very  small,  and  were  moved  only 
by  oars  and  sails.  Homer  gives  us  a  good  idea 
of  the  ancient  system  of  navigation,  where  he 
tells,  in  the  Odyssey,  about  young  Telemachus 
setting  out  on  a  voyage  in  search  of  his  father, 
Ulysses : 

Telemachus  went  up 

The  vessel's  side,  but  Pallas  first  embarked, 
And  at  the  stern  sat  down,  while  next  to  her 
Telemachus  was  seated.     Then  the  crew 
Cast  loose  the  fastenings  and  went  all  on  board, 
And  took  their  places  on  the  rowers'  seats, 
While  blue-eyed  Pallas  sent  a  favoring  breeze, 
A  fresh  wind  from  the  west,  that  murmuring  swept 
The  dark-blue  main.     Telemachus  gave  forth 
The  word  to  wield  the  tackle;  they  obeyed, 
And  raised  the  fir-tree  mast,  and,  fitting  it 
Into  its  socket,  bound  it  fast  with  cords, 
And  drew  and  spread  with  firmly  twisted  ropes 
The  shining  sails  on  high.     The  steady  wind 
Swelled  out  the  canvas  in  the  midst;  the  ship 

STO.   OF  TROY — 5  65 


66 

Moved  on,  the  dark  sea  roaring  round  her  keel, 
As  swiftly  through  the  waves  she  cleft  her  way. 

BRYANT,  Odyssey,  Book  II. 

For  many  days  the  Greek  chiefs  at  Aulis  waited 
for  favoring  breezes,  but  none  came. 

"  The  troops 

Collected  and  embodied,  here  we  sit 
Inactive,  and  from  Aulis  wish  to  sail 
In  vain." 

EURIPIDES  (Potter's  tr.). 

At  last  the  soothsayer  Calchas  told  them  that  the 
easterly  winds  which  prevented  them  from  sailing 
were  caused  by  the  anger  of  Di-an'a.  Diana  was 
the  goddess  of  hunting,  and  there  was  one  of  her 
sacred  groves  in  the  neighborhood  of  Aulis.  In 
this  grove  King  Agamemnon  went  hunting  during 
the  time  the  ships  were  being  repaired  after  the 
storm,  and  he  killed  one  of  Diana's  favorite  deer. 
He  even  boasted  that  he  was  a  greater  hunter  than 
Diana  herself.  This  enraged  the  goddess,  and 
Calchas  said  that  her  anger  could  be  appeased  only 
by  the  offering  up  of  Agamemnon's  daughter, 
Iph-i-ge-ni'a,  as  a  sacrifice. 

The  feelings  of  the  father  may  be  easily  imagined. 
He  heard  the  announcement  of  the  soothsayer  with 
the  utmost  horror,  and  he  declared  that  he  would 
withdraw  from  the  expedition  rather  than  permit 
his  child  to  be  put  to  death.  But  Ulysses  and  the 


Painting  by  Makart,     (Fragment.) 

DIANA  HUNTING. 


(67) 


68 

other  princes  begged  him  to  remember  that  the 
honor  of  their  country  was  at  stake.  They  said 
that  if  he  should  withdraw,  the  great  cause  for 
which  they  had  labored  for  ten  years  would  be  lost, 
and  the  Trojan  insult  to  his  own  family  and  to  all 
Greece  would  remain  unpunished. 

At  last  Agamemnon  consented,  and  messen- 
gers were  sent  to  Mycenae  to  bring  Iphigenia  to 
Aulis.  The  king  was  even  persuaded  to  deceive 
his  wife,  Clyt-em-nes'tra.  Knowing  that  she  would 
not  allow  her  daughter  to  be  taken  away  for  such 
a  purpose,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the  queen,  saying 
that  Iphigenia  had  been  chosen  to  be  the  wife 
of  Achilles,  and  that  he  wished  the  marriage 
ceremony  to  be  performed  before  the  departure 
of  the  young  prince  for  Troy. 

"  I  wrote,  I  seal'd 

A  letter  to  my  wife,  that  she  should  send 
Her  daughter  to  Achilles  as  a  bride 
Affianc'd." 

EURIPIDES  (Potter's  tr.). 

Clytemnestra  agreed  to  the  proposal,  happy  at  the 
thought  of  her  daughter  being  married  to  so  great 
a  prince  as  Achilles.  Iphigenia  accordingly  accom- 
panied the  messengers  to  the  Greek  camp  at  Aulis. 
When  she  learned  of  the  terrible  fate  to  which  she 
had  been  doomed,  she  threw  herself  at  her  father's 


69 

feet  and  piteously  implored  his  protection.  But 
her  tears  and  entreaties  were  in  vain.  The  agonized 
father  had  now  no  power  to  save  her,  for  the  whole 
army  demanded  that  the  will  of  the  goddess  should 
be  obeyed.  Preparations  for  the  awful  sacrifice  were 
therefore  made,  and  when  everything  was  ready, 
the  beautiful  young  princess  was  led  to  the  altar. 
Tennyson,  in  his  "  Dream  of  Fair  Women,"  has 
these  lines  about  Iphigenia  at  Aulis: 

"  I  was  cut  off  from  hope  in  that  sad  place, 

Which  men  called  Aulis  in  those  iron  years: 
My  father  held  his  hand  upon  his  face; 
I,  blinded  with  my  tears, 

Still  strove  to  speak:  my  voice  was  thick  with  sighs 

As  in  a  dream.     Dimly  I  could  descry 
The  stern,  black-bearded  kings  with  wolfish  eyes, 

Waiting  to  see  me  die." 

But  Iphigenia  was  not  sacrificed  after  all.  Her 
innocence  excited  the  pity  even  of  Diana,  and  at 
the  last  moment. the  goddess  snatched  the  weeping 
maiden  away  in  a  cloud,  and  left  in  her  place  a 
beautiful  deer  to  be  offered  up  as  a  sacrifice.  She 
carried  the  princess  off  to  Tau'ri-ca,  a  country  bor- 
dering the  Black  Sea,  and  there  Iphigenia  remained 
for  many  years,  serving  as  a  priestess  in  Diana's 
temple. 


The  anger  of  Diana  being  appeased,  favorable 
winds  now  began  to  blow,  and  the  Greeks  again 
set  sail.  This  time  they  had  a  more  fortunate 
voyage.  Piloted  by  Telephus,  the  fleet  crossed  the 
^gean  Sea,  and  safely  reached  the  coast  of  Troas. 
But  here  Calchas  made  another  discouraging 
prophecy.  He  declared  that  the  first  Greek  who 
stepped  on  Trojan  soil  would  be  killed  in  the  first 
fight  with  the  enemy.  This  the  oracle  at  Delphi 
had  also  foretold.  There  was  some  hesitation, 
therefore,  about  landing,  for  the  army  of  King 
Priam  was  ranged  along  the  beach  prepared  for 
battle  with  the  invaders. 

This  was  the  occasion  of  an  heroic  act  by  Pro- 
tes-i-la'us,  king  of  Phyl'a-ce  in  Thessaly,  who 
boldly  leaped  ashore  as  soon  as  the  vessels  touched 
the  land.  The  prediction  of  Calchas  was  soon 
fulfilled.  Protesilaus  was  struck  dead  in  the  first 
fight  by  a  spear  launched  by  the  hands  of  the 
Trojan  leader,  Hector.  The  bravery  of  the  Thes- 
salian  king,  and  the  grief  of  his  queen,  La-od-a-mi'a, 
when  she  heard  of  his  death,  have  been  much 
celebrated  in  song  and  story. 

Protesilaus  the  brave, 
Who  now  lay  silent  in  the  gloomy  grave: 
The  first  who  boldly  touch'd  the  Trojan  shore, 
And  dyed  a  Phrygian  lance  with  Grecian  gore; 


There  lies,  far  distant  from  his  native  plain; 
And  his  sad  consort  beats  her  breast  in  vain. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

Laodamia  in  her  sorrow  prayed  to  the  gods  that 
she  might  see  her  husband  again  on  earth.  Jupiter 
heard  her  prayer,  and  he  ordered  Mercury  to  con- 
duct Protesilaus  from  Hades,  the  land  of  the  dead, 
to  Thessaly,  to  remain  with  Laodamia  for  the  space 
of  three  hours. 

Laodamia  was  happy  for  the  brief  time  allowed 
her  to  enjoy  again  the  companionship  of  her  beloved 
Protesilaus,  and  she  listened  with  pride  to  the  story 
of  his  brave  deed  on  the  Trojan  shore. 

"  Thou  know'st,  the  Delphic  oracle  foretold 
That  the  first  Greek  who  touched  the  Trojan  strand 
Should  die;  but  me  the  threat  could  not  withhold: 
A  generous  cause  a  victim  did  demand ; 
And  forth  I  leapt  upon  the  sandy  plain; 
A  self-devoted  chief  —  by  Hector  slain." 

WORDSWORTH,  Laodamia. 

But  the  happy  moments  flew  swiftly  by,  and 
when  the  three  hours  had  passed,  Mercury  returned 
to  take  the  hero  back  to  the  world  of  shades.  The 
parting  was  too  much  for  the  fond  Laodamia.  She 
died  of  grief  as  her  husband  disappeared  from  her 
sight. 

Protesilaus  was  buried  on  the  Trojan  shore,  and 
around  his  grave,  it  is  said,  there  grew  very  wonder- 


72 

ful  trees.  These  trees  withered  away  as  soon  as 
their  tops  reached  high  enough  to  be  seen  from  the 
city  of  Troy.  Then  fresh  trees  sprang  up  from 
their  roots,  and  withered  in  like  manner  when  they 
reached  the  same  height,  and  so  this  marvelous 
growth  and  decay  continued  for  ages. 

Upon  the  side 

Of  Hellespont  (such  faith  was  entertained) 
A  knot  of  spiry  trees  for  ages  grew 
From  out  the  tomb  of  him  for  whom  she  died ; 
And  ever,  when  such  sfature  they  had  gained 
That  Ilium's  walls  were  subject  to  their  view, 
The  trees'  tall  summits  withered  at  the  sight; 
A  constant  interchange  of  growth  and  blight! 

WORDSWORTH,  Laodatnia. 

The  heroic  act  of  Protesilaus  was  the  beginning 
of  the  great  war.  Before  he  fell  himself  he  slew 
many  of  the  enemy,  and  hosts  of  his  countrymen, 
encouraged  by  his  example,  poured  from  their  ships 
and  encountered  the  Trojans  in  fierce  conflict.  In 
this  first  battle  the  Greeks  were  victorious.  Though 
Hector  and  his  brave  troops  fought  valiantly  they 
were  driven  back  from  the  shore,  and  compelled  to 
take  refuge  within  the  strong  walls  of  the  city. 

The  Trojans  were  well  prepared  for  the  war. 
King  Priam  had  not  been  idle  while  the  Greek 
leaders  were  mustering  their  forces.  From  all  parts 
of  his  kingdom  he  had  gathered  immense  supplies 


73 

of  provisions,  and  the  princes  and  chiefs  of  Troas 
came  with  large  armies  to  defend  their  king  and 
country.  The  most  celebrated  of  these  chiefs  was 
the  hero  ^-ne'as,  son  of  An-chi'ses  and  the  goddess 
Venus.  He  commanded  the  Dardanian  forces,  and 
had  as  his  lieutenants  the  two  brave  warriors,  Ac'a- 
mas  and  Ar-chil'o-chus. 

Divine  y£neas  brings  the  Dardan  race. 
Archilochus  and  Acamas  divide 
The  warrior's  toils,  and  combat  by  his  side. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

The  Trojans  had  numerous  and  powerful  allies. 
Troops  were  sent  to  them  from  the  neighboring 
countries  of  Phrygia,  Mysia,  Lyc'i-a  and  Ca'ri-a. 
The  Lycian  forces  were  led  by  Sar-pe'don,  a  son  of 
Jupiter,  and  a  renowned  warrior. 

A  chief,  who  led  to  Troy's  beleaguer 'd  wall 
A  host  of  heroes,  and  outshined  them  all. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XVI. 

But  the  greatest  of  the  heroes  who  defended  Troy, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  Achilles,  the  greatest  and 
bravest  of  all  who  took  part  in  the  Trojan  War,  was 
the  famous  Hector. 

The  boast  of  nations,  the  defense  of  Troy! 
To  whom  her  safety  and  her  fame  she  owed ; 
Her  chief,  her  hero,  and  almost  her  god! 

POPE,  Iliad.  Book  XXII. 


74 

So  long  as  Hector  lived  Troy  was  safe.  When 
he  died,  his  great  rival,  Achilles,  by  whose  hand  he 
was  slain,  rejoiced  with  the  Greeks  as  if  Troy  had 
already  fallen. 

"Ye  sons  of  Greece,  in  triumph  bring 
The  corpse  of  Hector,  and  your  paeans  sing. 
Be  this  the  song,  slow-moving  toward  the  shore, 
'  Hector  is  dead,  and  Ilion  is  no  more.'  ' 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XXII. 

But  though  led  by  the  great  Hector,  the  Trojans, 
after  their  first  defeat,  were  unable  to  keep  up  the 
fight  in  the  open  field  against  the  vast  numbers  of 
the  Greeks.  Seeing,  therefore,  that  they  must  de- 
pend for  safety  on  the  strong  walls  which  Neptune 
had  built,  they  drew  all  their  forces  into  the  city, 
leaving  the  enemy  in  possession  of  the  surrounding 
country. 

Then  the  famous  siege  of  ten  years  began.  The 
Greeks  hauled  their  ships  out  of  the  water,  and  fixed 
them  on  the  beach  in  an  upright  position  supported 
by  props.  Close  to  the  vessels,  on  the  land  side, 
they  erected  their  tents,  which  extended  in  a  long 
line,  one  wing,  or  end,  of  which  was  guarded  by 
Achilles,  and  the  other  by  Ajax  Telamon.  Between 
this  encampment  and  the  walls  of  Troy  —  a  distance 
of  three  or  four  miles  —  many  a  fierce  conflict  took 
place,  and  many  a  brave  warrior  fell  during  the 


75 

great  contest.  For  the  Trojans,  headed  by  Hector 
or  some  other  of  their  chiefs,  often  came  out  from 
the  city  through  the  principal  gate,  called  the 
Scas'an  Gate,  which  faced  the  Grecian  camp,  and 
fought  the  enemy  in  the  open  plain,  on  the  bank  of 
the  celebrated  river  Simois. 

And  from  the  walls  of  strong-besieged  Troy, 
When  their  brave  hope,  bold  Hector,  march'd  to  field, 
Stood  many  Trojan  mothers,  sharing  joy 
To  see  their  youthful  sons  bright  weapons  wield; 
And  to  their  hope  they  such  odd  action  yield, 
That  through  their  light  joy  seemed  to  appear, 
Like  bright  things  stain 'd,  a  kind  of  heavy  fear. 

And  from  the  strond  of  Dardan,  where  they  fought, 

To  Simois'  reedy  banks  the  red  blood  ran, 

Whose  waves  to  imitate  the  battle  sought 

With  swelling  ridges;  and  their  ranks  began 

To  break  upon  the  galled  shore,  and  then 
Retire  again,  till,  meeting  greater  ranks, 
They  join  and  shoot  their  foam  at  Simois'  banks. 

SHAKESPEARE,  Lucrece. 


V.     THE  WRATH  OF  ACHILLES. 

FOR  over  nine  years  the  siege  was  carried  on 
without  one  side  or  the  other  gaining  any  important 
victory.  The  Trojans  were  protected  by  their  walls, 
which  the  Greeks  were  unable  to  break  down,  for 
the  ancients  had  no  such  powerful  engines  of  war 
as  those  used  in  armies  of  the  present  day.  The 
strongest  buildings  may  now  be  easily  destroyed  by 
cannon ;  but  in  those  days  they  had  no  cannon  or 
gunpowder  or  dynamite.  Success  in  war  in  ancient 
times  depended  almost  entirely  on  the  bravery  of 
the  soldiers  or  on  strategy  and  artifice,  in  which,  as 
we  shall  see,  the  king  of  Ithaca  was  much  skilled. 

The  Greek  and  Trojan  warriors  fought  with 
swords,  axes,  bows  and  arrows,  and  javelins,  or  long 
spears  tipped  with  sharp  iron  points.  Sometimes 
they  used  huge  stones  which  the  heroes  hurled  at 
the  foe  with  the  full  strength  of  their  powerful  arms. 
They  had  shields  of  circular  or  oval  shape,  which 
they  wore  on  the  arm  to  ward  off  blows,  and  which 
could  be  moved  at  pleasure  so  as  to  cover  almost 
any  part  of  the  body.  Their  chests  were  protected 

76 


77 

by  corselets  or  breastplates  made  of  metal,  and 
metal  greaves,  or  boots,  incased  their  legs  from  the 
knees  to  the  feet.  On  their  heads  they  wore 
helmets,  usually  of  brass. 

The  chiefs  fought  in  chariots,  from  which  they 
darted  their  spears  at  the  enemy  with  such  force 
and  so  true  an  aim  as  to  wound  or  kill  at  a  con- 
siderable distance.  The  chariots  were  two-wheeled, 
open  at  the  back,  and  often  drawn  by  three  horses. 
They  usually  carried  two  warriors,  both  standing, 
and  the  charioteer,  or  driver,  was  generally  the  com- 
panion or  friend,  and  not  the  servant,  of  the  fighters 
who  stood  behind  him.  Sometimes  the  warriors 
came  down  from  their  chariots  and  fought  hand  to 
hand  at  close  quarters  with  the  enemy.  The  com- 
mon soldiers  always  fought  on  foot.  There  were 
no  horse  soldiers. 

But  in  the  Trojan  War  success  or  defeat  did  not 
always  depend  on  the  bravery  of  the  soldiers  or  on 
the  skill  or  strategy  of  the  generals.  Very  much 
depended  on  the  gods.  We  have  seen  how  those 
divine  beings  had  to  do  with  the  events  that  led  to 
the  war.  We  shall  also  see  them  taking  part  in  the 
battles,  sometimes  giving  victory  to  one  side  and 
sometimes  to  the  other.  The  Trojan  War  was  in 
fact  as  much  a  war  of  the  gods  as  of  men,  and  in 
Homer's  story  we  find  Jupiter  and  Juno  and  Apollo 


78 

and  Neptune  and  Venus  and  Minerva  mentioned 
almost  as  frequently  as  the  Greek  and  Trojan 
heroes.  In  the  beginning  of  the  Iliad  we  find 
Apollo  sending  a  plague  among  the  Greeks  because 
of  an  insult  offered  to  his  priest,  Chry'ses;  for  the 
daughter  of  Chryses,  a  beautiful  maiden  named 
Chry-se'is,  was  carried  off  by  Achilles  after  the 
taking  of  The'be,  a  town  of  Mysia. 

During  the  long  siege  the  Grecian  chiefs  ex- 
tended the  war  into  the  surrounding  districts. 
While  part  of  their  forces  was  left  at  the  camp  to 
protect  the  ships  and  keep  the  Trojans  cooped  up 
within  their  walls,  expeditions  were  sent  out  against 
many  of  the  towns  of  Troas,  or  of  the  neighboring 
countries  which  were  allies  and  supporters  of  Troy. 
When  the  Greeks  captured  a  town  they  carried  off 
not  only  the  provisions  and  riches  it  contained,  but 
also  many  of  its  inhabitants,  whom  they  sold  as 
slaves,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  time,  or  kept 
as  slaves  in  their  own  service.  In  one  of  these 
expeditions  Priam's  youngest  son,  Tro'i-lus,  the 
hero  of  Shakespeare's  play  of  "  Troilus  and  Cres'- 
si-da,"  was  slain  by  Achilles. 

It  was  in  the  tenth  year  of  the  war  that  Thebe 
was  taken,  and  the  maiden  Chryseis  was  captured. 
About  the  same  time  the  town  of  Lyr-nes'sus  was 
seized  by  an  expedition,  also  led  by  Achilles,  and 


79 

among  the  prisoners  was  a  beautiful  woman  named 
Bri-se'is.  In  the  division  of  the  spoils  among  the 
chiefs,  Chryseis  fell  to  the  share  of  Agamemnon, 
and  the  maiden  Briseis  was  given  to  Achilles,  who 
took  her  to  his  tent  with  the  intention  of  making 
her  his  wife.  But  the  priest  Chryses  was  deeply 
grieved  at  the  taking  away  of  his  daughter,  and  he 
came  to  the  Grecian  camp  to  beg  the  chiefs  to 
restore  her  to  him.  In  his  hand  he  bore  a  golden 
scepter  bcund  with  fillets,  or  green  branches, 
the  emblems  of  his  priestly  office,  and  he  also  car- 
ried with  him  valuable  gifts  for  King  Agamemnon. 
Being  admitted  to  the  presence  of  the  warrior  chiefs 
assembled  in  council,  he  begged  them  to  release  his 
child. 

He  sued  to  all,  but  chief  implored  for  grace 
The  brother-kings,  of  Atreus'  royal  race. 

"  Ye  kings  and  warriors!  may  your  vows  be  crown'd, 
And  Troy's  proud  walls  lie  level  with  the  ground. 
May  Jove  restore  you  when  your  toils  are  o'er 
Safe  to  the  pleasures  of  your  native  shore. 
But,  oh!  relieve  a  wretched  parent's  pain, 
And  give  Chryseis  to  these  arms  again." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Hearing  the  prayer  of  the  venerable  priest,  many 
of  the  chiefs  were  moved  to  pity,  and  they  advised 
that  his  request  should  be  granted,  but  Agamemnon 
angrily  refusedo 


Berlin 


APOLLO. 


8i 

He  dismissed 
The  priest  with  scorn,  and  added  threatening  words:  — 

"  Old  man,  let  me  not  find  thee  loitering  here, 
Beside  the  roomy  ships,  or  coming  back 
Hereafter,  lest  the  fillet  thou  dost  bear 
And  scepter  of  thy  god  protect  thee  not. 
This  maiden  I  release  not  till  old  age 
Shall  overtake  her  in  my  Argive  home, 
Far  from  her  native  country." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Chryses  then  departed  from  the  Grecian  camp, 
and  as  he  returned  home  in  sorrow,  walking  along 
the  shores  of  the  sea,  he  prayed  to  Apollo  to  punish 
the  insult  thus  offered  to  his  priest. 

11  O  Smintheus!  if  I  ever  helped  to  deck 
Thy  glorious  temple,  if  I  ever  burned 
Upon  thy  altar  the  fat  thighs  of  goats 
And  bullocks,  grant  my  prayer,  and  let  thy  shafts 
Avenge  upon  the  Greeks  the  tears  I  shed." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Apollo  heard  the  prayer  of  Chryses,  and  he  sent 
a  deadly  plague  upon  the  Grecian  army.  With  his 
silver  bow,  every  clang  of  which  was  heard  through- 
out the  camp,  the  archer  god  darted  his  terrible 
arrows  among  the  Greeks,  smiting  them  down  in 
great  numbers. 

He  came  as  comes  the  night, 
And,  seated  from  the  ships  aloof,  sent  forth 

STO.   OF  TROY  —  6 


82 

An  arrow;  terrible  was  heard  the  clang 
Of  that  resplendent  bow.     At  first  he  smote 
The  mules  and  the  swift  dogs,  and  then  on  man 
He  turned  the  deadly  arrow.     All  around 
Glared  evermore  the  frequent  funeral  piles. 

«  BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

For  nine  days  the  arrows  of  death  were  sent  upon 
the  Greek  army,  and  the  funeral  piles  of  the  victims 
were  continually  burning,  for  it  was  the  custom  in 
those  times  to  burn  the  bodies  of  the  dead.  On  the 
tenth  day  of  the  plague  Achilles  called  a  council 
of  the  chiefs  to  consider  how  the  anger  of  the  god 
might  be  appeased,  and  he  spoke  before  them, 
saying: 

"  Let  us  consult  some  prophet  or  priest  who  will 
tell  us  why  Phoebus  Apollo  is  so  much  enraged  with 
us,  and  whether  he  may,  when  we  shall  have  offered 
sacrifices  upon  his  altar,  take  away  this  pestilence 
which  is  destroying  our  people." 

Then  Calchas,  the  soothsayer,  arose  and  said: 

UO  Achilles,  I  can  tell  why  the  god  is  wroth 
against  us,  and  willing  I  am  to  tell  it,  but  perhaps  I 
may  irritate  the  king  who  rules  over  all  the  Argives, 
and  in  his  anger  he  may  clo  evil  to  me.  Promise 
me,  therefore,  your  protection,  and  I  will  declare 
why  this  plague  has  come  upon  the  Greeks." 

"  Fear  nothing,  O   Calchas,"  answered  Achilles. 


83 

"While  I  am  alive  not  one  of  all  the  Greeks,  not 
even  Agamemnon  himself,  shall  harm  you." 

"  Fear  nothing,  but  speak  boldly  out  whate'er 
Thou  knowest,  and  declare  the  will  of  heaven. 
For  by  Apollo,  dear  to  Jove,  whom  thou, 
Calchas,  dost  pray  to,  when  thou  givest  forth 
The  sacred  oracles  to  men  of  Greece, 
No  man,  while  yet  I  live,  and  see  the  light 
Of  day,  shall  lay  a  violent  hand  on  thee." 

BRYANT,  Iliad^  Book  I. 

Thus  encouraged,  Calchas  announced  to  the  chiefs 
that  Apollo  was  angry  because  his  priest  had  been 
dishonored  and  insulted  by  Agamemnon.  This  was 
why  the  people  were  perishing,  and  the  wrath  of  the 
god  could  be  appeased  only  by  restoring  Chryseis  to 
her  father,  and  sending  a  hundred  victims  to  be 
offered  in  sacrifice  to  the  god.  Upon  hearing  these 
words  Agamemnon  was  filled  with  anger  against 
Calchas. 

"  Prophet  of  evil,"  he  exclaimed,  "  never  have  you 
spoken  anything  good  for  me.  And  now  you  say  I 
must  give  up  the  maiden.  I  shall  do  so,  since  I 
wish  not  the  destruction  of  the  people,  but  another 
I  must  have,  for  it  is  not  fitting  that  I  alone  of  all 
the  Argives  shall  be  without  a  prize." 

To  this  Achilles  answered  that  there  was  no  prize 
just  then  that  Agamemnon  could  have.  "  How  can 


84 

we  give  you  a  prize,"  said  he,  "since  all  the  spoils 
have  already  been  divided?  We  cannot  ask  the 
people  to  return  what  has  been  given  to  them.  Be 
satisfied  then  to  let  the  maiden  go.  When  we  have 
taken  the  strong  city  of  Troy  we  will  compensate 
you  fourfold." 

"  Not  so,"  replied  Agamemnon.  "  If  the  Greeks 
give  me  a  suitable  prize,  I  shall  be  content,  but  if 
not,  I  will  seize  yours  or  that  of  Ajax  or  Ulysses. 
This  matter,  however,  we  will  attend  to  afterwards. 
For  the  present  let  the  maid  be  sent  back  to  her 
father,  that  the  wrath  of  the  Far-darter  may  be 
appeased." 

At  this  Achilles  was  very  angry,  and  he  said: 

"  Impudent  and  greedy  man,  how  can  the  Greeks 
fight  bravely  under  your  command?  As  for  me,  I 
did  not  come  here  to  make  war  against  the  Trojans 
because  of  any  quarrel  of  my  own.  The  Trojans 
have  done  no  wrong  to  me.  It  is  to  get  satisfaction 
for  your  brother  we  have  come  here  in  our  ships, 
and  we  do  most  of  the  fighting  while  to  you  is  given 
most  of  the  spoils.  But  now  I  will  return  home  to 
Phthia.  Perhaps  you  will  then  have  little  treasure 
to  share." 

Greatly  enraged  at  this  speech,  Agamemnon  re- 
plied in  wrathful  words :  "  Go  home,  by  all  means, 
with  your  ships  and  your  Myrmidons.  Other  chiefs 


85 

« 

there  are  here  who  will  honor  me,  and  I  care  not 
for  your  anger." 

"Thus,  in  turn, 

I  threaten  thee ;  since  Phoebus  takes  away 
Chryseis,  I  will  send  her  in  my  ship 
And  with  my  friends,  and,  coming  to  thy  tent, 
Will  bear  away  the  fair-cheeked  maid,  thy  prize, 
Briseis,  that  thou  learn  how  far  I  stand 
Above  thee,  and  that  other  chiefs  may  fear 
To  measure  strength  with  me,  and  brave  my  power.' 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Furious  at  this  threat,  Achilles  put  his  hand  to 
his  sword  with  the  intention  of  slaying  Agamem- 
non, and  he  had  half  drawn  the  weapon  from  its 
scabbard,  but  just  at  that  moment  the  goddess 
Minerva  stood  behind  him.  and  caught  him  by  his 
yellow  hair.  She  had  been  sent  down  from  heaven 
by  JpmcTto  pacify  the  hero,  for  Juno*"and  Minerva ' 
were  friendly  to  the  Greeks.  Ever  since  the  judg- 
ment on  Mount  Ida  they  hated  Paris,  and  the  city 
and  country  to  which  he  belonged,  and  therefore 
they  wished  that  there  should  be  no  strife  amongst 
the  Greek  chiefs,  which  would  prevent  them  from 
taking  and  destroying  the  hated  city. 

Achilles  was  astonished  when  he  beheld  the  god- 
dess, who  appeared  to  him  alone,  being  invisible  to 
all  the  rest.  He  instantly  knew  who  she  was,  and 
he  said  to  her :  "  O  goddess,  have  you  come  to  wit- 


86 

ness  the  insolence  of  the  son  of  Atreus?  You 
shall  also  witness  the  punishment  I  shall  inflict  upon 
him  for  his  haughtiness." 

But  Minerva  spoke  soothing  words  to  the  hero: 

"I  came  from  heaven  to  pacify  thy  wrath, 
If  thou  wilt  heed  my  counsel.     I  am  sent 
By  Juno  the  white-armed,  to  whom  ye  both 
Are  dear,  who  ever  watches  o'er  you  both. 
Refrain  from  violence ;  let  not  thy  hand 
Unsheath  the  sword,  but  utter  with  thy  tongue 
Reproaches,  as  occasion  may  arise, 
For  I  declare  what  time  shall  bring  to  pass; 
Threefold  amends  shall  yet  be  offered  thee, 
In  gifts  of  princely  cost,  for  this  day's  wrong. 
Now  calm  thy  angry  spirit,  and  obey." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Thus  Minerva  spoke,  and  Achilles,  answering  her, 
said :  "  Willingly,  O  goddess,  shall  I  observe  your 
command,  though  in  my  soul  much  enraged,  for  so 
it  is  better,  since  the  gods  are  ever  favorable  to 
those  who  obey  them." 

So  speaking  he  put  his  sword  back  into  its  scab- 
bard, while  the  goddess  swiftly  returned  to  Olympus. 
Then  the  hero  again  addressed  Agamemnon  in  bit- 
ter words,  and  he  took  a  solemn  oath  on  the  scepter 
he  held  in  his  hand,  that  he  would  refuse  to  help 
the  Greeks  when  they  next  should  seek  his  aid  for 
battle  with  the  Trojans. 


8; 

"Tremendous  oath!   inviolate  to  kings; 
By  this  1  swear: — when  bleeding  Greece  again 
Shall  call  Achilles,  she  shall  call  in  vain." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

The  venerable  Nestor  then  arose  to  speak,  and  he 
begged  the  two  chiefs  to  cease  quarreling  with  each 
other,  for  the  Trojans,  he  said,  would  greatly  rejoice 
to  hear  of  strife  between  the  bravest  men  of  the 
Greeks.  He  advised  Achilles,  though  of  a  goddess- 
mother  born,  not  to  contend  against  his  superior  in 
authority,  and  he  entreated  Agamemnon  not  to  dis- 
honor Achilles,  the  bulwark  of  the  Greeks,  by  tak- 
ing away  the  prize  which  had  been  allotted  to  him. 

"Forbid  it,  gods!  Achilles  should  be  lost, 
The  pride  of  Greece,  and  bulwark  of  our  host."- 

POPF-,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

But  the  wise  Nestor  advised  and  entreated  in 
vain.  Agamemnon  would  not  yield  from  his  pur- 
pose of  taking  away  the  prize  of  Achilles,  and  so 
the  council  of  the  chiefs  came  to  an  end. 

Rising  from  that  strife  of  words,  the  twain 
Dissolved  the  assembly  at  the  Grecian  fleet. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Immediately  afterwards,  by  order  of  the  king,  the 
maiden  Chryseis  was  conducted  to  her  father's 
home,  and  sacrifices  were  offered  to  Apollo.  The 
anger  of  the  god  being  thus  appeased,  the  army 


(88) 


was  relieved  from  the  plague.  Then  Agamemnon 
proceeded  to  carry  out  his  threat  against  Achilles. 
Calling  two  of  his  officers,  or  heralds,  Tal-thyb'i-us 
and  Eu-ryb'a-tes,  he  commanded  them  thus : 

"Go  ye  to  where  Achilles  holds  his  tent, 
And  take  the  fair  Briseis  by  the  hand, 
And  bring  her  hither.     If  he  yield  her  not, 
I  shall  come  forth  to  claim  her  with  a  band 
Of  warriors,  and  it  shall  be  worse  for  him." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Achilles  received  the  heralds  respectfully.  He 
had  no  blame  for  them,  since  they  were  but  messen- 
gers. Nor  did  he  refuse  to  obey  the  command  of 
the  king.  He  delivered  Briseis  to  the  heralds,  and 
they  conducted  her  to  the  tent  of  Agamemnon. 
Thus  was  committed  the  deed  which  brought  count- 
less woes  upon  the  Greeks,  for  Achilles,  in  deep 
grief  and  anger,  vowed  that  he  would  no  more  lead 
his  Myrmidons  to  battle  for  a  king  who  had  so  dis- 
honored and  insulted  him. 

"  Let  these  heralds,"  said  he,  "  be  the  witnesses 
before  gods  and  men  of  the  insult  offered  to  me  by 
this  tyrant  king,  and  when  there  shall  be  need  of  me 
again  to  save  the  Greeks  from  destruction,  appeal 
to  me  shall  be  in  vain." 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  wrath  of  Achilles, 
which  is  the  subject  of  Homer's  Iliad.  The  Iliad 


9o 

is  not  a  complete  story  of  the  Trojan  War,  but  an 
account  of  the  disasters  which  happened  to  the 
Greeks  through  the  anger  of  Achilles.  The  poem, 
indeed,  relates  the  events  of  only  fifty-eight  days,  but 
they  were  events  of  the  highest  interest  and  they 
were  very  numerous.  It  is  remarked  by  Pope  that 
the  subject  of  the  Iliad  is  the  shortest  and  most 
single  ever  chosen  by  any  poet.  Yet  Homer  has 
supplied  a  vaster  variety  of  incidents,  a  greater 
number  of  councils,  speeches,  battles,  and  events  of 
all  kinds,  than  are  to  be  found  in  any  other  poem. 

The  Iliad  begins  with  the  wrath  of  Achilles, 
which  in  the  first  line  of  the  first  book  is  announced 
as  the  poet's  theme : 

Achilles'  wrath,  to  Greece  the  direful  spring 

Of  woes  unnumber'd,  heavenly  goddess,  sing! 

That  wrath  which  hurl'd  to  Pluto's  gloomy  reign 

The  souls  of  mighty  chiefs  untimely  slain; 

Whose  limbs  unburied  on  the  naked  shore, 

Devouring  dogs  and  hungry  vultures  tore: 

Since  great  Achilles  and  Atrides  strove, 

Such  was  the  sovereign  doom,  and  such  the  will  of  Jove! 

POPE,  ///«</,  Book  I. 

The  heavenly  goddess  here  invoked  was  Cal- 
li'o-pe,  the  patroness  of  epic  song,  and  one  of  the 
nine  Muses.  These  were  sister  deities,  daughters 
of  Jupiter,  who  presided  over  poetry,  science,  music, 


and  dancing.  Apollo,  as  god  of  music  and  the  fine 
arts,  was  their  leader.  They  held  their  meetings  on 
the  top  of  Mount  Par-nas'sus  in  Greece.  On  the 
slope  of  this  mount  was  the  celebrated  spring  or 
fountain  of  Cas-ta'li-a,  whose  waters  were  supposed  to 
give  the  true  poetic  spirit  to  all  who  drank  of  them. 

The  epic  poets  usually  began  their  poems  by  in- 
voking the  aid  of  the  Muse.  Homer  does  this  in 
the  very  first  line  of  the  Iliad,  the  word  for  word 
translation  of  which  is  :  "  O  goddess,  sing  the  wrath 
of  Achilles,  the  son  of  Peleus." 

So  also  the  English  poet,  Milton,  begins  his  great 
epic  poem,  "  Paradise  Lost,"  which  tells  about  the 
disobedience  of  Adam  and  Eve  in  the  Garden  of 
Eden : 

Of  man's  first  disobedience,  and  the  fruit 

Of  that  forbidden  tree  whose  mortal  taste 

Brought  death  into  the  world,  and  all  our  woe, 

With  loss  of  Eden,  till  one  greater.Man 

Restore  us,  and  regain  the  blissful  seat, 

Sing,  heavenly  Muse,  that,  on  the  secret  top 

Of  Oreb  or  of  Sinai,  didst  inspire 

That  shepherd  who  first  taught  the  chosen  seed 

In  the  beginning  how  the  heavens  and  earth 

Rose  out  of  Chaos;  or,  if  Sion  hill 

Delight  thee  more,  and  Siloa's  brook  that  flow'd 

Fast  by  the  oracle  of  God,  I  thence 

Invoke  thy  aid  to  my  advent' rous  song. 


VI.     THE  DREAM  OF  AGAMEMNON. 

VERY  soon  great  evils  came  upon  the  Greeks 
because  of  the  strife  between  the  chiefs.  When 
Chryseis  was  restored  to  her  father,  Apollo  stopped 
the  plague ;  but  the  wrong  done  to  Achilles  pro- 
voked the  anger  of  another  deity.  This  was  Thetis, 
who,  having  much  power  with  Jupiter,  was  able  to 
persuade  him  to  take  up  the  cause  of  her  injured  son. 

For  as  soon  as  the  heralds  departed  from  his 
tent,  leading  away  the  fair-cheeked  Briseis,  Achilles 
withdrew  from  his  friends,  retired  to  the  seashore, 
and  sitting  there  alone  he  bitterly  wept,  and  with 
outstretched  hands  prayed  to  his  mother,  Thetis. 
The  goddess  heard  his  voice,  and  ascending  from 
the  depths  of  the  ocean,  where  she  dwelt  in  the 
palace  of  her  aged  father,  Nereus,  she  sat  down 
beside  the  hero,  and  soothing  him  with  her  hand, 
she  inquired  the  cause  of  his  distress.  "  Why  do 
you  weep,  my  son?  What  grief  has  come  upon 
thy  mind?" 

Then    Achilles    related     to    his    mother    what 

Agamemnon  had  done,  and  he  begged  her  to  go  to 

92 


93 

Mount  Olympus  and  entreat  Jupiter  to  punish  the 
insult  that  had  been  offered  to  her  son.  He  spoke 
of  the  service  she  had  done  for  Jupiter  long  before, 
when  Juno,  Neptune,  and  Minerva  had  made  a  plot 
to  bind  him,  and  cast  him  from  the  throne  of 
heaven.  They  might  have  succeeded  in  doing  this 
if  Thetis  had  not  called  Bri'a-reus  up  from  Pluto's 
kingdom  to  help  Jupiter.  Briareus  was  a  mighty 
giant  who  had  a  hundred  hands,  and  his  appearance 
in  Olympus  so  terrified  the  conspirators  that  they 
did  not  attempt  to  carry  out  their  wicked  plot. 

"  Now,"  said  Achilles  to  his  mother,  "  remind 
Jupiter  of  this,  and  beg  him  to  aid  the  Trojans  and 
give  them  victory  in  battle,  so  that  Agamemnon 
may  feel  the  effects  of  his  folly  in  dishonoring  me." 

"  Ascend  to  heaven  and  bring  thy  prayer  to  Jove, 
If  e'er  by  word  or  act  thou  gav'st  him  aid. 
For  I  remember,  in  my  father's  halls 
I  often  heard  thee,  glorying,  tell  how  thou, 
Alone  of  all  the  gods,  didst  interpose 
To  save  the  cloud-compeller,  Saturn's  son, 
From  shameful  overthrow,  when  all  the  rest 
Who  dwell  upon  Olympus  had  conspired 
To  bind  him,  — Juno,  Neptune,  and  with  them 
Pallas  Athene.     Thou  didst  come  and  loose 
His  bonds,  and  call  up  to  the  Olympian  heights 
The  hundred-handed,  whom  the  immortal  gods 
Have  named  Briareus." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  1. 


94 

Thetis  readily  consented  to  do  as  her  son  desired. 

"  Not  now,  however ! "  said  she,  "  for  yesterday 
Jupiter  went  to  E-thi-o'pi-a  to  a  banquet,  and  all 
the  gods  went  with  him.  But  in  twelve  days  he 
will  return.  Then  I  will  go  to  Olympus  and  tell 
your  words  to  thunder-delighting  Jove,  and  I  think 
I  shall  be  able  to  persuade  him  to  grant  your 
request." 

"  Thou,  meanwhile,  abide 

By  thy  swift  ships,  incensed  against  the  Greeks, 
And  take  no  part  in  all  their  battles  more." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Thetis  did  not  forget  her  promise.  On  the 
twelfth  day,  at  the  dawn  of  morning,  she  emerged 
from  beneath  the  waves,  and  went  up  to  Olympus. 
There  she  threw  herself  at  the  feet  of  Jupiter,  as  he 
sat  on  the  summit  of  the  mount  apart  from  the 
other  gods,  and  earnestly  prayed  him  to  grant  vic- 
tory to  the  Trojans  until  the  Greeks  should  make 
amends  to  her  son  for  the  injury  that  had  been 
done  him. 

Now  it  may  seem  that  it  was  not  just  to  ask  that 
the  whole  Greek  army  should  be  punished  for  the 
act  of  their  general.  But  the  other  chiefs  and  their 
people  were  hardly  less  to  blame  than  Agamemnon, 
for  they  did  not  try  to  prevent  him  from  doing  the 
wrong.  If  they  had  opposed  him  very  much,  he 


95 

would  not  perhaps  have  dared  to  insult  their  greatest 
warrior,  the  man  without  whose  help  they  knew 
Troy  could  not  be  taken.  Therefore  Thetis  begged 
Jupiter  to  punish  all  the  Greeks  by  giving  victory 
to  the  Trojans. 

"  O  Jupiter,  my  father,  if  among 
The  immortals  I  have  ever  given  thee  aid 
By  word  or  act,  deny  not  my  request. 
Honor  my  son  whose  life  is  doomed  to  end 
So  soon;  for  Agamemnon,  king  of  men, 
Hath  done  him  shameful  wrong:  he  takes  from  him 
And  keeps  the  prize  he  won  in  war.     But  thou, 
Olympian  Jupiter,  supremely  wise, 
Honor  him  thou,  and  give  the  Trojan  host 
The  victory,  until  the  humbled  Greeks 
Heap  large  increase  of  honors  on  my  son." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

Jupiter  hesitated  for  some  time  before  consenting 
to  grant  the  prayer  of  Thetis. 

"  This,"  said  he,  "  is  a  serious  matter,  for  by  doing 
as  you  desire  I  may  give  offense  to  Juno,  who  has 
already  been  blaming  me  among  the  gods,  saying 
that  I  aid  the  Trojans  in  battle.  However,  since 
you  will  have  it  so,  I  shall  grant  your  request." 

"And  that  thou 

Mayst  be  assured,  behold,  I  give  the  nod ; 
For  this,  with  me,  the  immortals  know,  portends 
The  highest  certainty;  no  word  of  mine 


96 

Which  once  my  nod  confirms  can  be  revoked, 
Or  prove  untrue,  or  fail  to  be  fulfilled." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

The  awful  nod  was  then  given,  and  mighty 
Olympus  trembled.  Thetis,  rejoicing  at  the  success 
of  her  mission,  departed  from  the  heavenly  regions 
and  plunged  into  the  depths  of  the  sea,  while 
Jupiter  went  to  his  golden  palace  where  the  other 
gods  were  sitting  around  the  banqueting  table.  As 
he  entered  all  rose  up  to  do  him  honor,  and  met 
him  as  he  advanced  to  his  throne.  But  his  talk 
with  Thetis  had  not  escaped  the  notice  of  Juno, 
and  suspecting  what  it  was  about,  she  addressed  her 
spouse  in  harsh  words. 

"  Thou  art  ever,"  said  she,  "  plotting  secret  things 
apart  from  me,  and  now  I  greatly  fear  that  the 
silver-footed  Thetis  has  persuaded  thee  to  do  some 
evil  to  the  Greeks." 

"  Thou  hast  promised  her,  I  cannot  doubt, 
To  give  Achilles  honor  and  to  cause 
Myriads  of  Greeks  to  perish  by  their  fleet." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

"You  are  always  suspecting,"  answered  Jupiter, 
"but  now  it  will  avail  you  nothing.  Even  though 
I  have  done  what  you  say,  such  is  my  sovereign 
pleasure.  Be  silent,  and  sit  down  in  peace,  and 
take  care  not  to  provoke  my  anger." 


National  Museum,  Naples. 
STO.  OF  TROY  —  7 


JUNO. 


(97) 


98 

At  this  point  Vulcan  interfered,  entreating  his 
mother,  Juno,  to  submit  to  the  will  of  almighty 
Jove;  "for,"  said  he,  "if  the  Thunderer  wishes  to 
hurl  us  from  our  seats  in  heaven  he  can  easily  do  it, 
since  his  power  is  far  greater  than  that  of  all  the 
other  gods." 

Vulcan  then  reminded  her  how  she  and  he  had 
both  been  punished  on  a  former  occasion  for  an 
offense  against  Jupiter.  When  Hercules  was 
returning  to  Greece  from  Troy  after  capturing  that 
city,  Juno,  who  hated  the  great  hero,  caused  a  storm 
to  be  raised  in  the  ^gean  Sea,  which  drove  his 
ships  out  of  their  course  and  almost  destroyed  them. 
That  she  might  do  this  without  Jupiter  knowing  it, 
she  contrived  to  cast  him  into  a  deep  sleep.  When 
he  awoke  and  found  out  what  she  had  done,  he  was 
so  angry  that  he  hung  her  from  the  heavens  by  a 
golden  chain,  and  tied  two  heavy  iron  anvils  to  her 
feet.  Vulcan  tried  to  loose  the  chains  and  set  his 
mother  free,  and  for  this  offense  Jupiter  hurled  him 
from  the  abode  of  the  gods.  He  fell  on  the  island 
of  Lem'nos  in  the  yEgean  Sea,  but  some  of  the 
inhabitants,  seeing  him  descend,  caught  him  in 
their  arms.  Nevertheless,  he  broke  his  leg  by  the 
fall  and  was  ever  afterwards  lame. 

How  he  fell 
From  heaven  they  fabled,  thrown  by  angry  Jove 


99 

Sheer  o'er  the  crystal  battlements;  from  morn 
To  noon  he  fell,  from  noon  to  dewy  eve, 
A  summer's  day;  and  with  the  setting  sun 
Dropped  from  the  zenith,  like  a  falling  star, 
On  Lemnos,  the  ./Egean  isle. 

MILTON,  Paradise  Lost,  Book  I. 

After  reminding  Juno  of  these  things,  and  restor- 
ing peace  between  her  and  the  king  of  heaven, 
Vulcan  took  upon  himself  the  office  of  cupbearer. 
He  poured  nectar  into  golden  goblets  and  served 
it  round  to  the  gods  and  goddesses,  all  of  whom 
laughed  at  the  sight  of  the  lame  god  bustling 
through  the  banqueting  hall  performing  the  work 
of  Ganymede.  They  feasted  till  sunset,  Apollo 
giving  them  sweet  music  from  his  lyre,  while  the 
goddesses  of  song  accompanied  him  with  their 
voices. 

Thus  the  blest  gods  the  genial  day  prolong, 
In  feasts  ambrosial,  and  celestial  song. 
Apollo  tuned  the  lyre ;  the  Muses  round 
With  voice  alternate  aid  the  silver  sound. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  I. 

When  the  banquet  was  over,  the  gocls  and  god- 
desses retired  to  their  palaces, — golden  palaces  built 
by  Vulcan, —  and  they  sought  repose  in  sleep.  But 
Jupiter  did  not  sleep,  for  he  was  thinking  how  he 
might  carry  out  his  promise  to  Thetis.  After  much 
thought  he  resolved  to  send  a  message  to  Agamem- 


100 

non  by  means  of  a  dream,  telling  him  to  lead  his 
forces  at  once  against  Troy,  as  it  was  the  will  of  the 
gods  that  the  city  should  now  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  Greeks.  And  so  this  false  Dream  or  Lying 
Spirit  was  sent  on  its  deceitful  errand.  It  took  the 
form  of  the  venerable  Nestor,  and,  appearing  to 
Agamemnon  while  he  was  sleeping  in  his  tent,  de- 
livered to  him  the  command  of  Jupiter : 

"Monarch,  awake!    'tis  Jove's  command  I  bear; 
Thou  and  thy  glory  claim  his  heavenly  care. 
In  just  array  draw  forth  the  embattled  train, 
Lead  all  thy  Grecians  to  the  dusty  plain ; 
E'en  now,  O  king!   'tis  given  thee  to  destroy 
The  lofty  towers  of  wide-extended  Troy." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

As  soon  as  Agamemnon  awoke  he  hastily  called 
a  council  of  the  chiefs  to  meet  at  the  ships  of  Nes- 
tor. There  he  told  them  of  the  command  of  Jove, 
as  sent  to  him  in  his  dream.  All  agreed  that  the 
divine  will  should  be  obeyed,  but  Agamemnon,  like 
a  prudent  general,  thought  it  would  be  well,  before 
going  to  battle,  to  find  out  whether  the  troops,  after 
their  toils  of  nine  years,  were  still  willing  to  support 
him  in  carrying  on  the  war.  With  this  object  he 
resolved  to  tr^Jjip  plan  nf  prpj-ondino-  to  them  thai- 
he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  stop  the  siegp  nnH_rp- 
turn  at  once  to  Greece.  But  he  directed  the  chiefs 


101 

to  advise  their  followers  not  to  consent  to  the  pro- 
posal, and  to  encourage  them  to  make  one  more  fight 
for  the  honor  of  their  country.  Then  the  heralds 
summoned  the  whole  army  to  assemble,  and  the  vast 
host  gathered  together  on  the  plain  before  the  camp, 
to  listen  to  the  words  of  their  commander.  Homer's 
description  of  the  muster  of  the  forces  on  this  occa- 
sion is  very  beautiful : 

The  sceptred  rulers  lead;  the  following  host, 
Pour'd  forth  by  thousands,  darkens  all  the  coast. 
As  from  some  rocky  cleft  the  shepherd  sees 
Clustering  in  heaps  on  heaps  the  driving  bees, 
Rolling  and  blackening,  swarms  succeeding  swarms, 
With  deeper  murmurs  and  more  hoarse  alarms ; 
Dusky  they  spread,  a  close  embodied  crowd, 
And  o'er  the  vale  descends  the  living  cloud. 
So,  from  the  tents  and  ships,  a  lengthen'd  train 
Spreads  all  the  beach,  and  wide  o'ershades  the  plain: 
Along  the  region  runs  a  deafening  sound ; 
Beneath  their  footsteps  groans  the  trembling  ground. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

The  whole  Greek  army  being  thus  assembled,  with 
the  exception  of  the  wrathful  Achilles  and  his  Myr- 
midons, Agamemnon  then  addressed  them,  leaning 
on  his  scepter.  He  told  them  he  now  believed  that 
Troy  could  not  be  taken,  and  that  Jupiter,  who  be- 
fore promised  victory  to  the  Greeks,  now  commanded 
them  to  return  to  Argos. 


102 

"Let  us  therefore,"  said  he,  "get  ready  our  ships 
and  hasten  to  set  sail  for  our  dear  native  land,  where 
our  wives  with  our  beloved  children  sit  within  their 
dwellings  expecting  us."  The  proposal  was  received 
with  a  loud  shout  of  joy,  and  the  moment  the  king 
finished  speaking,  the  vast  multitude  began  at  once 
to  make  preparations  for  launching  the  vessels  into 
the  sea. 

So  was  the  whole  assembly  swayed ;  they  ran 
With  tumult  to  the  ships;  beneath  their  feet 
Rose  clouds  of  dust,  and  each  exhorted  each 
To  seize  the  ships  and  drag  them  to  the  deep. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

But  Juno,  from  her  seat  on  high  Olympus,  was 
watching  these  movements,  and  she  resolved  that 
the  war  against  the  hated  Trojans  should  not  thus 
come  to  an  end.  She  therefore  sent  M i ne rva  ob  wn 
with  a  message  to  Ulysses.  The  azure-eyed  god- 
dess, as  Minerva  is  often  called  by  Homer,  hastened 
to  the  Grecian  camp,  and  approached  the  Ithacan 
king,  who  was  standing  near  his  ships,  much  grieved 
at  seeing  his  countrymen  preparing  to  depart. 
Minerva  addressed  him  in  earnest  words,  begging 
him  to  use  his  influence  with  the  Greeks  and  per- 
suade them  not  to  go. 

"  It  cannot  be,"  said  she,  "  that  you,  brave  chiefs, 
will  leave  to  Priam  the  glory  of  victory,  and  to  the 


103 

Trojans  possession  of  Helen,  on  whose  account  so 
many  of  your  people  have  perished,  far  from  their 
native  land." 

Ulysses  _knew  the  voice  of  the  goddess,  and 
promptly  he  complied  with  her  request.  He  went 
among  the  ships  and  talked  to  the  leaders,  remind- 
ing them  that  it  was  not  Agamemnon's  wish  that 
they  should  give  up  the  war,  and  entreating  them  to 
set  an  example  of  courage  to  their  followers. 

"Warriors  like  you,  with  strength  and  wisdom  bless'd, 
By  brave  examples  should  confirm  the  rest." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

He  also  spoke  to  the  soldiers,  reproving  them  for 
their  hasty  flight,  and  bidding  them  listen  to  the 
words  of  their  leaders,  who  knew  better  than  they 
when  and  how  to  act.  His  efforts  were  successful. 
As  speedily  as  they  had  fled  to  their  ships  the  Greeks 
now  rushed  back,  and  again  assembled  to  await  the 
orders  of  their  commander. 

Back  to  the  assembly  roll  the  thronging  train, 
Desert  the  ships,  and  pour  upon  the  plain. 

POPE,  Iliad^  Book  II. 

But  there  was  one  evil-minded  individual  who 
tried  to  incite  the  others  to  rebellion.  This  was 
Ther-si'tes,  a  vulgar  brawler,  and  the  ugliest  man  in 
the  whole  Greek  army. 


104 

Of  the  multitude 

Who  came  to  Ilium,  none  so  base  as  he,  — 
Squint-eyed,  with  one  lame  foot,  and  on  his  back 
A  lump,  and  shoulders  curving  towards  the  chest; 
His  head  was  sharp,  and  over  it  the  hairs 
Were  thinly  scattered. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

This  ill-conditioned  grumbler,  as  deformed  in  mind 
as  in  body,  took  much  pleasure  in  abusing  the  brav- 
est warriors  of  the  army,  particularly  Achilles  and 
Ulysses.  But  on  the  present  occasion  he  raised  his 
shrill  voice  in  words  of  insult  against  Agamemnon. 

"  Your  tents,"  cried  he  to  the  king,  "  are  full  of 
money  and  prizes  bestowed  upon  you  by  us.  Do 
you  want  still  more  gold,  which  we  by  our  valor  must 
win  for  you  from  the  enemy  ?  If  the  Greeks  were 
not  women  instead  of  men,  they  would  return  home 
in  their  ships  and  leave  you  here  to  fight  the  Trojans. 
Little  honor  and  few  prizes  would  you  then  have !" 

"O  ye  coward  race! 

Ye  abject  Greeklings,  Greeks  no  longer,  haste 
Homeward  with  all  the  fleet,  and  let  us  leave 
This  man  at  Troy  to  win  his  trophies  here." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

Thus  did  Thersites  revile  Agamemnon,  but  his 
insolent  speech  brought  speedy  punishment  upon 
him.  Ulysses,  who  was  close  at  hand,  turned  with 
angry  looks  upon  the  offender  and  rebuked  him  in 


stern  language.  Then  with  his  scepter  he  smote 
Thersites  on  the  back  and  shoulders,  until  he  wept 
with  pain  and  crouched  down  upon  his  seat  in  fear 
and  trembling. 

Trembling  he  sat,  and  shrunk  in  abject  fears, 
From  his  vile  visage  wiped  the  scalding  tears. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

All  the  Greeks  laughed  heartily  at  the  cowering 
wretch  as  he  wiped  his  face,  and  they  loudly  applauded 
the  act  of  the  Ithacan  chief.  "  Surely,"  said  they, 
"  Ulysses  has  performed  many  good  deeds,  but  now 
he  has  done  the  best  thing  of  all  in  punishing  this 
foul-mouthed  reviler  as  he  deserved." 

Then  Ulysses,  taking  in  his  hand  the  famous 
scepter  of  Agamemnon,  made  an  eloquent  speech  to 
the  army,  Minerva,  the  azure-eyed,  in  the  appearance 
of  a  herald,  having  commanded  the  people  to  be 
silent,  that  they  might  hear  the  words  of  the  wisest 
of  their  leaders.  It  was  upon  this  occasion  that  the 
Ithacan  king  told  the  story  of  the  serpent  devouring 
the  birds  at  Aulis,  as  already  related.  Many  of  the 
Greeks  had  forgotten  the  marvelous  occurrence, 
and  the  prediction  of  Calchas  that  in  the  tenth 
year  of  the  siege  Troy  would  be  taken.  Beingjnow 
reminded  of  it,they  were  filled  with  fresh  hope  and 
courage,  for  the  tenth  year  had  come,  and  the  end 
of  the  contest  was  not  far  off,  which  was  to  be  for 


io6 

them  a  great  victory,  as  the  soothsayer  had  declared. 
"  Therefore,  brave  Greeks,"  said  Ulysses,  after  telling 
the  story,  "  since  the  prophecy  is  so  near  its  fulfill- 
ment, let  us  all  remain  here  until  we  have  captured 
the  city  of  Priam." 

He  spake,  and  loud  applause  thereon  ensued 
From  all  the  Greeks,  and  fearfully  the  ships 
Rang  with  the  clamorous  voices  uttering 
The  praises  of  Ulysses,  and  his  words. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

The  venerable  Nestor  and  King  Agamemnon 
then  addressed  the  troops,  after  which  they  all  went 
to  their  tents  and  ships  to  prepare  for  battle.  They 
began  by  making  the  customary  sacrifices  to  the 
gods.  Agamemnon  offered  up  a  fat  ox  five  years  old. 
Homer  fully  describes  how  this  was  done.  First  the 
king  and  his  chiefs  stood  around  the  ox,  holding 
pounded  barley  cakes  in  their  upraised  hands,  and 
praying  to  Jupiter  to  grant  them  victory  in  the  ap- 
proaching battle.  After  the  prayer  the  ox  was 
killed,  and  the  carcass  cut  into  pieces.  Portions 
of  the  flesh  were  then  burned  on  leafless  billets, 
while  other  portions  were  roasted  for  the  banquet 
which  followed. 

After  the  banquet  the  loud-voiced  heralds  sum- 
moned all  the  warriors  and  their  followers  to  assem- 
ble. Immediately  they  came  from  their  ships  and 


tents,  and  then,  on  the  advice  of  Nestor,  there  was  a 
review  of  the  whole  army.  The  azure-eyed  Minerva 
moved  amongst  them,  bearing  in  her  hand  the  aegis, 
or  shield  of  Jupiter,  from  which  hung  a  hundred 
golden  fringes,  each  "  worth  a  hundred  oxen  in 
price."  She  went  through  the  hosts  of  the  Greeks 
encouraging  them  to  fight  bravely,  and  so  they  were 
now  more  eager  for  battle  than  to  return  to  their 
native  land. 

It  is  at  this  part  of  his  story  —  the  review  of  the 
forces  —  that  Homer  gives  the  remarkable  account 
known  as  the  "  Catalogue  of  the  Ships."  In  it  he 
tells  the  names  of  all  the  Greek  kings  and  princes 
and  chiefs,  the  Grecian  states  from  which  they 
came,  and  the  number  of  ships  which  each  brought 
to  the  war.  To  do  this  was  no  easy  task,  and  so 
the  poet,  before  undertaking  it,  again  seeks  the 
aid  of  the  Muses: 

O  Muses,  goddesses  who  dwell  on  high, 
Tell  me, —  for  all  things  ye  behold  and  know, 
While  we  know  nothing  and  may  only  hear 
The  random  tales  of  rumor, — tell  me  who 
Were  chiefs  and  princes  of  the  Greeks ;  for  I 
Should  fail  to  number  and  to  name  them  all, — 
Had  I  ten  tongues,  ten  throats,  a  voice  unapt 
To  weary,  uttered  from  a  heart  of  brass, — 
Unless  the  Muses  aided  me. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  II. 


io8 

The  allies  and  leaders  of  the  Trojans  are  also 
named  and  described  in  the  "  Catalogue  of  the  Ships," 
for  they  too  were  marshaling  their  forces  within  the 
city.  From  their  walls  they  had  observed  the  move- 
ments of  the  Greeks,  and,  moreover,  Jupiter  had 
sent  down  his  swift-footed  messenger,  I'ris,  to  bid 
them  get  ready  for  battle.  The  goddess  found 
Priam  and  Hector  and  others  of  the  chiefs  of  Troy 
sitting  in  council,  and  she  told  them  of  the  vast 
host  of  the  Greeks  that  was  just  then  marching 
towards  the  city. 

"  I  have  seen  many  battles,  yet  have  ne'er 
Beheld  such  armies,  and  so  vast  as  these, — 
In'  number  like  the  sands  and  summer  leaves. 
They  march  across  the  plain,  prepared  to  give 
Battle  beneath  the  city  walls.     To  thee, 
O  Hector,  it  belongs  to  heed  my  voice 
And  counsel.     Many  are  the  allies  within 
The  walls  of  this  great  town  of  Priam,  men 
Of  diverse  race  and  speech.     Let  every  chief 
Of  these  array  his  countrymen  for  war, 
And  give  them  orders  for  the  coming  fight." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

Hector  promptly  obeyed  the  command  of  the 
goddess.  Dismissing  the  council,  he  and  the  other 
chiefs  at  once  placed  themselves  at  the  head  of  their 
troops  and  marched  forth  through  the  gates  into  the 
plain. 


VII.     THE  COMBAT  BETWEEN  MENELAUS 
AND  PARIS. 

THE  two  great  armies,  now  in  battle  array  on  the 
plain  before  the  city  walls,  began  to  advance 
towards  each  other.  The  Trojans  moved  along 
with  great  clatter,  which  Homer  compares  to  the 
noise  of  flocks  of  cranes: 

The  Trojan  host  moved  on 

With  shouts  and  clang  of  arms,  as  when  the  cry 
Of  cranes  is  in  the  air,  that,  flying  south 
From  winter  and  its  mighty  breadth  of  rain, 
Wing  their  way  over  ocean. 

BRYANT,  Iliad^  Book  III. 

The  Greeks,  on  the  other  hand,  advanced  in  deep 

silence. 

But  silently  the  Greeks 

Went  forward,  breathing  valor,  mindful  still 
To  aid  each  other  in  the  coming  fray. 

As  when  the  south  wind  shrouds  a  mountain-top 
In  vapors  that  awake  the  shepherd's  fear, — 
A  surer  covert  for  the  thief  than  night, — 
And  round  him  one  can  only  see  as  far 
As  one  can  hurl  a  stone, —  such  was  the  cloud 
109 


1 10 

Of  dust  that  from  the  warriors'  trampling  feet 
Rose  round  their  rapid  march  and  filled  the  air. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

As  soon  as  the  armies  approached  each  other, 
almost  front  to  front,  Paris  rushed  forward  from  the 
Trojan  lines,  and  challenged  the  Greeks  to  send 
their  bravest  warrior  to  fight  him  in  single  combat. 
In  appearance  he  was  beautiful  as  a  god.  Over 
his  shoulders  he  wore  a  panther's  skin.  His 
weapons  were  a  bow,  a  sword,  and  two  spears  tipped 
with  brass,  which  he  brandished  in  his  hands.  The 
challenge  was  speedily  answered  by  Menelaus,  who 
bounded  from  his  chariot  the  moment  he  beheld 
Paris,reioicing  that  at  last  the  time  had  come  to 
hayerevenge  on  the  man  who  had  so  greatly 
wrongedjiim. 

As  a  hungry  lion  who  has  made 
A  prey  of  some  large  beast  —  a  horned  stag 
Or  mountain  goat  —  rejoices,  and  with  speed 
Devours  it,  though  swift  hounds  and  sturdy  youths 
Press  on  his  flank,  so  Menelaus  felt 
Great  joy  when  Paris,  of  the  godlike  form, 
Appeared  in  sight,  for  now  he  thought  to  wreak 
His  vengence  on  the  guilty  one,  and  straight 
Sprang  from  his  car  to  earth  with  all  his  arms. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

But  when  Paris  saw  who  it  wasjthat  had  come 
forth_to_fight  him,  he  was  seized  with  a  great  fear, 


Ill 

and   he  shrank  back   into  the   ranks   of   his^  com- 
panions. 

As  one  who  meets  within  a  mountain  glade 
A  serpent,  starts  aside  with  sudden  fright, 
And  takes  the  backward  way  with  trembling  limbs. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

Though  Paris  was  really  a  brave  man,  his  feeling 
of  his  own  guilt  and  the  sight  of  Menelaus,  whom 
he  had  injured,  made  him  a  coward  for  the  moment, 
and  so  he  fled  from  before  the  face  of  the  enraged 
king  of  Sparta.  The  noble  Hector  was  deeply 
vexed  at  seeing  his  brother's  flight,  and  in  angry 
words  upbraided  him  for  his  shameful  conduct. 

"  Better  would  it  have  been,"  said  he,  "  if  you 
had  never  been  born  than  thus  to  bring  disgrace 
upon  us  all.  Well  may  the  Greeks  laugh  at  finding 
that  you,  whom  they  supposed  to  be  a  hero,  possess 
neither  spirit  nor  courage.  You  have  brought  evil  on 
your  father,  your  city,  and  your  people,  by  carrying 
away  a  beautiful  woman  from  her  husband,  yet  you 
now  fear  to  meet  that  warrior  in  battle.  The  Tro- 
jans are  but  a  weak-minded  race,  else  they  would 
have  long  since  given  you  the  death  you  deserve." 

Paris  admitted  that  his  brother's  rebuke  was  just, 
ancf  he  now  declared  that  he  was  willing  tc  meet 
Menelaus  in  single  combat,  Helen  and  her  treas- 
ures  to  be  the  prize  of  the  victor. 


112 

"  Cause  the  Trojans  and  the  Greeks 
To  pause  from  battle,  while,  between  the  hosts, 
I  and  the  warlike  Menelaus  strive 
In  single  fight  for  Helen  and  her  wealth. 
Whoever  shall  prevail  and  prove  himself 
The  better  warrior,  let  him  take  with  him   .. 
The  treasure  and  the  woman,  and  depart; 
While  all  the  other  Trojans,  having  made 
A  faithful  league  of  amity,  shall  dwell 
On  Ilium's  fertile  plain,  and  all  the  Greeks 
Return  to  Argos." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

Hector  rejoiced  at  his  brother's  words,  and, 
immediately  going  forward  into  the  center  of  the 
open  space  between  the  two  armies,  he  spoke  in  a 
loud  voice  to  the  Greeks  and  Trojans,  telling  them 
of  the  proposal  which  Paris  had  made.  The  brave 
Menelaus  heard  the  challenge  with  delight,  and 
promptly  accepted  it. 

"  Now  hear  me  also,  — me  whose  spirit  feels 
The  wrong  most  keenly.     I  propose  that  now 
The  Greeks  and  Trojans  separate  reconciled, 
For  greatly  have  ye  suffered  for  the  sake 
Of  this  my  quarrel,  and  the  original  fault 
Of  Paris.     Whomsoever  fate  ordains 
To  perish,  let  him  die;  but  let  the  rest 
Be  from  this  moment  reconciled,  and  part." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

The  Greeks  and  Trojans  were  happy  at  the  hope 


thus  offered  of  a  speedy  end  to  the  war.  Hector 
sent  for  King  Priam,  that  he  and  Agamemnon  and, 
the  other  leaders  on  both  sides  might  declare  their 
approval  of  the  proposed  conditions,  and  pledge 
themselves  in  the  presence  of  both  armies  to  abide 
by  the  result  of  the  combat  between  the  two  heroes. 
Just  then  the  Trojan  monarch  was  seated  on  one  of 
the  watchtowers  of  the  walls,  looking  down  on  the 
plain  where  the  great  hosts  were  assembled.  With 
him  were  several  of  his  venerable  chiefs,  now  too 
old  to  take  part  in  fighting. 

While  they  sat  there  the  beautiful  Helen  came 
out  from  the  palace  to  witness  the  approaching  con- 
flict. ..  She  had  been  told  of  it  by  the  messenger 
Iris,  who,  descending  from  heaven,  and  taking  the 
form  of  La-od'i-ce,  one  of  Priam's  daughters,  ap- 
peared to  Helen  in  her  chamber.  There  she  was 
busy  at  her  loom,  making  in  golden  tapestry  a 
representation  of  some  of  the  great  events  of  the 
war.  In  those  days,  as  we  read  in  many  parts  of 
Homer,  the  noblest  ladies,  even  queens  and  their 
daughters,  did  not  think  it  beneath  them  to  work  at 
spinning  and  weaving  and  other  useful  occupations, 
and  so  Helen  was  employed  when  Iris  came  to  tell 
her  that  Paris  and  Menelaus  were  about  to  fight  for 
her  and  her  treasure. 

From  her  spinning  Helen  rose  up  and  went  to  the 

STO  OF  TROY  —  8 


Painting  by  Lord 


HELEN  OF  TROY. 


("4) 


walls  to  view  the  combat.  As  she  came  near  the 
place  where  Priam  sat,  even  the  venerable  chiefs 
were  compelled  to  admire  her  wondrous  beauty. 
"  Fair  as  the  immortal  goddesses  she  is,"  said  they; 
"  yet  much  better  would  it  be  if  she  would  return  to 
her  own  country,  and  not  remain  here  to  bring  ruin 
upon  us  and  our  children."  But  Priam  called  to  her 
to  sit  by  his  side,  and  said  to  her: 

"  No  crime  of  thine  our  present  sufferings  draws, 
Not  thou,  but  Heaven's  disposing  will,  the  cause 
The  gods  these  armies  and  this  force  employ, 
The  hostile  gods  conspire  the  fate  of  Troy." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

Then  King  Priam  asked  Helen  to  name  for  him 
some  of  the  Greek  leaders  whom  he  saw  before  hi m , 
not  far  from  the  city  walls. 

"  Who  is  that  tall  and  gallant  hero,"  he  asked, 
"  who  seems  like  unto  a  king?  Never  have  I  beheld 
a  man  so  graceful,  nor  so  venerable."  "  Revered 
and  honored  father,"  answered  Helen,  "  would  that 
death  had  taken  me  before  I  left  my  husband  and 
home  to  come  with  your  son  hither,  but  the  Fates  did 
not  will  it  so,  therefore  am  I  here.  That  hero  whom 
you  see  is  the  wide-ruling  Agamemnon,  the  son  of 

»>_^ALJ^V»-^,iJN,<J'W>_<x3^s_/>(ir|  —,,  — )_ 

Atreus,  both  a  good  king  and  a  brave  warrior,  and 
once  my  brother-in-law." 


"  My  brother  once,  before  my  days  of  shame, 
And  oh!  that  still  he  bore  a  brother's  name!  " 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

"  O  happy  Agamemnon,"  exclaimed  Priam,  "  for- 
tunate in  ruling  over  so  mighty  a  host !  But  who  is 
this  other  chief,  less  in  height  than  Agamemnon, 
though  broader  in  the  shoulders?  His  arms  lie  on 
the  ground,  while  he  himself  moves  from  rank  to 
rank  like  a  thick-fleeced  ram  which  wanders  through 
a  great  flock  of  sheep." 

"  The  stately  ram  thus  measures  o'er  the  ground, 
And,  master  of  the  flock,  surveys  them  round." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

"  That,"  said  Helen,  "  is  the  wjseUl^sses,  man  of 
many  arts.  Though  nursed  in  a  rugged  island,  yet 
is  he  skilled  in  all  kinds  of  stratagem  and  prudent 
counsel."  Ajax  and  Idomeneus  were  next  noticed 
by  King  Priam,  —  Ajax  the  mighty,  who  overtopped 
the  Argives  by  his  head  and  shoulders,  and  IdomerL: 
ens  the  valiant  k"i^  nf  f^ofp  Helen  knew  them 
\\v11,  for  she  had  seen  them  at  her  Spartan  home. 

"  Ajax  the  great,"  the  beauteous  queen  replied, 
"  Himself  a  host;  tin-  C.recian  strength  and  pride. 
See!  bold  Idomeneus  superior  towers 
Amid  yon  circle  of  his  Cretan  powers, 
Great  as  a  jnxl!    1  saw  him  once  before, 


ii; 

With  Menelaus  on  the  Spartan  shore. 

The  rest  I  know,  and  could  in  order  name; 

All  valiant  chiefs,  and  men  of  mighty  fame." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

But  at  this  point  the  heralds  sent  by  Hector  came 
to  tell  Priam  that  he  was  wanted  on  the  plain  below 
to  approve  the  terms  of  the  challenge.  Immediately 
the  king,  descending  from  the  ramparts,  mounted 
his  chariot,  accompanied  by  his  wise  counselor,  An- 
tenor.  They  drove  through  the  Scaean  Gate  into 
the  space  between  both  armies,  and  there,  with  the 
ceremonies  usual  on  such  occasions,  a  solemn  league 
was  formed  between  the  two  monarchs.  First,  they 
mixed  in  a  bowl  wine  brought  by  both  parties.  This 
was  an  emblem  of  reconciliation.  Next,  water  was 
poured  on  the  hands  of  the  kings,  after  which  Aga- 
memnon cut  with  his  dagger  hairs  from  the  heads  of 
three  lambs.  These  were  divided  among  the  chiefs 
on  both  sides,  so  that  all  might  be  bound  by  the 
pledge  about  to  be  made.  Then  Agamemnon, 
stretching  forth  his  hands,  prayed  thus  aloud : 

"  O  father  Jupiter,  most  glorious,  most  mighty, 
and  thou,  O  Sun,  who  beholdest  all  things,  and  ye 
rivers,  and  thou  earth,  and  ye  in  the  regions  of  the 
dead  that  punish  those  who  swear  false  oaths,  be  ye 
witnesses  of  this  league.  If,  on  the  one  hand,  Paris 
slay  Menelaus,  let  him  keep  Helen  and  all  her  pos- 


sessions,  and  let  us  return  home  in  our  ships.  But 
if,  on  the  contrary,  Menelaus  slay  Paris,  let  the  Tro- 
jans restore  Helen  and  all  her  treasures,  and  pay  a 
fine  to  the  Argives  such  as  may  be  just." 

Then  the  lambs  were  sacrificed,  and  the  kings 
drank  of  the  mixed  wine.  Some  of  it  was  also 
poured  on  the  earth,  while  the  Greeks  and  Trojans 
joined  in  praying  that  terrible  punishment  might  be 
sent  upon  any  person  who  should  violate  the  league : 

"  Hear,  mighty  Jove!  and  hear,  ye  gods  on  high! 
And  may  their  blood,  who  first  the  league  confound, 
Shed  like  this  wine,  disdain  the  thirsty  ground." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

Such  was  the  league  formed  between  the  kings 
and  chiefs  of  the  two  great  armies.  Priam  then 
went  back  to  the  city,  for  he  could  not  bear  to  wit- 
ness a  conflict  in  which  his  son  might  be  slain.  Lots 
were  now  drawn  to  decide  which  of  the  warriors 
should  cast  his  spear  first.  Paris  won,  and  immedi- 
ately the  champions,  putting  on  their  armor  and  tak- 
ing up  their  weapons,  advanced  into  the  middle  of 
the  ground  that  Hector  and  Ulysses  had  measured 
out  for  the  combat. 

Then  the  fight  began.  Paris  hurled  his  javelin, 
but  Menelaus  warded  off  the  blow  with  his  strong 
brazen  shield.  In  his  turn  the  Spartan  king  poised 
his  long  spear  for  a  throw  at  his  enemy.  At  the 


H9 

same  time  he  prayed  to  Jupiter  to  give  him  strength 
and  victory: 

"  O  Sovereign  Jove!  vouchsafe  that  I  avenge 
On  guilty  Paris  wrongs  which  he  was  first 
To  offer;  let  him  fall  beneath  my  hand, 
That  men  may  dread  hereafter  to  requite 
The  friendship  of  a  host  with  injury." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

Then  Menelaus  cast  his  spear.  It  pierced  the 
shield  and  corselet  of  Paris,  and  might  have  made 
a  fatal  wound  had  he  not  bent  himself  sideways,  and 
so  escaped  the  full  force  of  the  weapon.  Instantly 
Menelaus  rushed  forward,  sword  in  hand,  and  dealt 
a  powerful  blow  at  his  enemy's  head.  This  time 
Paris  was  saved  by  the  brazen  helmet  he  wore,  for 
when  Menelaus  struck  it,  the  blade  of  his  sword 
broke  in  pieces. 

Angry  at  his  ill  luck,  the  Spartan  warrior  seized 
his  foe  by  the  horsehair  crest  of  his  helmet,  and 
began  to  drag  him  towards  the  Grecian  lines;  but 
aTThis  point  Veffu^ame  to  the  aid  of  her  favorite. 
Standing  unseen  beside  him,  she  broke  the  helmet 
strap  under  his  chin,  and  thus  released  him  from 
the  grasp  of  the  wrathful  Menelaus.  Therusi^jcast 
a  thick  mist  around  the  Trojan  prince,  and,  _carry- 
ing  him  off  to  the  city,  set  him  down  in  his  cham- 
ber, within  his  own  palace.  The  goddess  also 


120 

conducted  Helen  to  the  palace,  from  the  watchtower 
in  which,  after  her  conversation  with  Priam,  she 
had  remained  to  witness  the  combat  on  the  plain. 
As  soon  as  Helen  beheld  Paris  she  spoke  to  him  in 
harsh  words: 

"  Com'st  thou  from  battle?  Rather  would  that  thou 
Hadst  perished  by  the  mighty  hand  of  him 
Who  was  my  husband.     It  was  once,  I  know, 
Thy  boast  that  thou  wert  more  than  peer  in  strength 
And  power  of  hand,  and  practice  with  the  spear, 
To  warlike  Menelaus.     Go  then  now, 
Defy  him  to  the  combat  once  again. 
And  yet  I  counsel  thee  to  stand  aloof, 
Nor  rashly  seek  a  combat,  hand  to  hand, 
With  fair-haired  Menelaus,  lest  perchance 
He  smite  thee  with  his  spear  and  thou  be  slain." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

Meanwhile  the  Spartan  king,  furious  as  a  lion, 
paced  up  and  down  the  field  searching  for  Paris, 
but  not  even  the  Trojans  could  tell  where  he  was. 
If  he  were  amongst  them  they  would  not  have  con- 
cealed him,  for  they  loved  him  not,  knowing  that  he 
was  the  cause  of  all  the  sufferings  which  the  long 
war  had  brought  upon  them. 

None  of  all 

Yin-  Trojans,  or  <>f  their  renowned  allies, 
Could  point  him  out  to  Menelaus,  loved 
Of  Mars;  and  had  they  known  his  lurking-place 


121 

They  would  not  for  his  sake  have  kept  him  hid, 
For  like  black  death  they  hated  him. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  III. 

Paris  having  disappeared  from  the  field,  the 
Greeks  claimed  the  victory  for  their  champion,  and 
Agamemnon  called  upon  the  Trojans  to  give  up 
Helen  and  her  treasures,  in  accordance  with  the 
conditions  of  the  league.  But"  the  gods  did  not 
thus  will  it.  The  Fates  had  decreed  the  destruc- 


tion of  Troy,  and  so  the  war  could  not  have  a 
peaceful  ending.  Besides,  the  Greeks  were  doomed 
to.juffer  as  lupiter  had  promised  Thetis,  because 
of  the  wrong  that  had  been  done  to  Achilles. 
Therefore,  after  the  matter  had  been  discussed  in  a 
council  of  the  gods  in  their  golden  palace  on 
Olympus,  Minerva  was  sent  down  to  urge  the 
Trojans  to  attack  the  Greeks,  so  that  the  league 
might  be  broken,  and  the  war  renewed.  According 
to  the  custom  of  heavenly  messengers  in  such  cases, 
the  goddess  took,  the  form  of  La-od'o-cus,  son  of 
Antenor.  Then,-  approaching  Pan'cla-rus,  a  famous 
archer  of  the  Yrojan  allies,  she  persuaded  him  to 
aim  an  arrow  at  Menelaus^ 

"  Great  honor,"  she  said,  "  you  will  have  from  all 
the  Trojans,  if  you  slay  the  son  of  Atreus,  and  from 
Paris  you  may  expect  splendid  gifts." 

But   Minerva,  being  friendly  to  the  Greeks,  did 


122 

not  really  wish  that  Menelaus  should  be  killed; 
therefore,  when  Pandarus  bent  his  bow  and  with 
true  aim  let  fly  his  arrow,  she  took  care  to  turn  the 
deadly  weapon  aside. 

Pallas  assists,  and  (weakened  in  its  force) 
Diverts  the  weapon  from  its  destined  course: 
So  from  her  babe,  when  slumber  seals  his  eye, 
The  watchful  mother  wafts  the  envenom'd  fly. 

POPE.  Iliad^  Book  IV. 

Nevertheless  the  arrow  pierced  the  Spartan 
king's  belt  and  made  a  slight  wound,  but  the  skill- 
ful surgeon,  Ma-cha'on,  son  of  the  famous  physician, 
^Esculapius,  stanched  the  blood  and  applied  sooth- 
ing balsams  which  his  father  had  taught  him  to  use. 

The  league  being  thus  broken  by  the  treacherous 
act  of  Pandarus.  both  sides  at  once  prepared  for 
battle^.  Agamemnon  went  on  foot  through  his 
army,  speaking  words  of  praise  to  the  chiefs,  whom 
he  found  active  in  marshaling  and  encouraging 
their  men.  "Father  Jupiter,"  he  said,  "will  not 
help  those  Trojans  who  have  so  basely  broken  their 
solemn  pledges.  When  we  have  taken  their  city 
we  shall  carry  away  rich  spoils  in  our  ships."  Of 
all  the  leaders  none  arranged  and  directed  his 
troops  more  wisely  than  the  venerable  Nestor. 

The  cavalry  with  steeds  and  cars  he  placed 
Jn  front.     A  vast  and  valiant  multitude 


123 

Of  infantry  he  stationed  in  the  rear, 
To  be  the  bulwark  of  the  war.     Between 
He  made  the  faint  of  spirit  take  their  place, 
That,  though  unwillingly,  they  might  be  forced 
To  combat  with  the  rest. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  IV. 

Then  he  gave  strict  orders  to  the  charioteers, 
warning  them  not  to  trust  too  much  to  their  valor, 
or  rashly  advance  in  front  of  their  comrades. 

"  Let  no  man,  too  vain  of  horsemanship, 
And  trusting  in  his  valor,  dare  advance 
Beyond  the  rest  to  attack  the  men  of  Troy, 
Nor  let  him  fall  behind  the  rest,  to  make 
Our  ranks  the  weaker.     Whoso  from  his  car 
Can  reach  an  enemy's,  let  him  stand  and  strike 
With  his  long  spear,  for  'tis  the  shrewder  way." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  IV. 


VIII.     THE  FIRST  GREAT  BATTLE. 


Design  by  Burn<--J»n. ... 


NEARLY  three  books  of  the 
Iliad  are  occupied  in  telling 
about  the  battle  that  now  fol- 
lowed, though  it  lasted  only 
one  day.  But  it  was  a  fierce 
and  mighty  conflict  in  which 
many  brave  warriors  fought 
and  fell. 

For  that  day 
Saw    many    a    Trojan    slain,    and 

many  a  Greek, 
Stretched  side  by  side  upon   the 

bloody  field. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  IV. 

All  the  chiefs  of  both  armies 
took  part  in  this  battle,  except 
Achilles,  who  still  remained 
inactive  at  his  ships,  "indig- 
nant for  the  sake  of  the  fair- 
haired  Briseis."  The  heroes 
of  the  day  on  the  Trojan  side_ 

124 


125 

were  Hector  and  ^Eneas.  Of  the  Greeks  (also  some- 
times called  A-cha'ians)  none  performed  so  many 
feats  of  valor  as  Diomede  (or  Diomed),  also  called 
Ty-di'des,  from  the  name  of  his  father,  Ty'deus. 
He  was  the  particular  favorite  of  Minerva,  who 
caused  a  bright  light  to  shine  from  his  shield  and 
helmet,  which  made  him  a  striking  figure  in  the 
field,  and  very  terrible  to  the  enemy. 

Pallas  to  Tydides  Diomed 

Gave  strength  and  courage,  that  he  might  appear 
Among  the  Achaians  greatly  eminent, 
And  win  a  glorious  name.     Upon  his  head 
And  shield  she  caused  a  constant  flame  to  play, 
Like  to  the  autumnal  star  that  shines  in  heaven 
Most  brightly  when  new-bathed  in  ocean  tides. 
Such  light  she  caused  to  beam  upon  his  crest 
And  shoulders,  as  she  sent  the  warrior  forth 
Into  the  thick  and  tumult  of  the  fight. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

Diomede  slew  many  brave  warriors,  and  often, 
breaking  through  the  close  ranks  of  the  Trojans, 
drove  them  back  towards  their  walls,  before  he  him- 
self was  smitten  with  an  arrow  sent  flying  at  him 
by  the  archer  Pandarus.  The  weapon  pierced  his 
shoulder  right  through,  and  the  blood  came  stream- 
ing down  his  armor.  Then  Pandarus  shouted  to 
his  comrades  to  advance,  boasting  that  now  the 


MINERVA. 


127 

bravest  of  the  Greeks  was  fatally  wounded.  But 
Diomede  prayed  to  Minerva  for  aid,  and  his  prayer 
was  heard.  Immediately  the  goddess  appeared  and 
stood  beside  him,  and  in  an  instant  healed  his  wound. 
Then  she  encouraged  him,  saying:  "Henceforth 
fight  with  confidence,  O  Diomede.  I  have  given  you 
great  strength.  I  have  also  removed  from  your  eyes 
the  mortal  mists  which  heretofore  were  upon  them, 
so  that  now  you  may  know  gods  from  men.  Be- 
ware, however,  of  using  your  weapons  against  any 
god,  unless  Venus  should  come  into  the  battle. 
Her  I  desire  and  command  you  to  wound." 

With  fresh  courage  and  increased  fury  Diomede 
again  rushed  into  the  conflict,  striking  down  a  Tro- 
jan with  every  blow  of  his  huge  sword.  ^Eneas, 
noticing  his  exploits,  hastily  sought  out  Pandarus 
and  begged  him  to  aim  an  arrow  at  the  man  who  was 
thus  destroying  their  ranks. 

"That  man,"  said  PaiSarus,  "very  much  resem- 
bles the  warlike  son  of  Tydeus,  and  if  it  be  he,  some 
god  is  surely  at  his  side  to  protect  him,  for  only  a 
little  ago  I  smote  him  in  the  shoulder,  and  I  thought 
I  had  sent  him  to  Pluto's  kingdom.  Of  small  use 
it  seems  is  this  bow  of  mine.  Already  I  have  aimed 
at  two  chiefs,  Menelaus  and  Diomede,  and  wounded 
both,  but  I  have  only  roused  them  the  more  to 
heroic  deeds." 


128 

"  In  an  evil  hour 

I  took  my  bow  and  quiver  from  the  wall 
And  came  to  lead  the  Trojans  for  the  sake 
Of  Hector.     But  if  ever  I  return 
To  see  my  native  country  and  my  wife 
And  my  tall  spacious  mansion,  may  some  foe 
Strike  off  my  head  if  with  these  hands  I  fail 
To  break  my  bow  in  pieces,  casting  it 
Into  the  flames,  a  useless  weapon  now." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

But  ^neas  made  the  great  archer  try  his  skill 
once  more.  Taking  Pandarus  with  him  in  his  own 
chariot,  he  drove  rapidly  to  where  Diomede  was 
dealing  death  amongst  the  Trojans  with  his  terrible 
sword.  Sthen'e-lus,  the  companion  and  charioteer 
of  Diomede,  saw  them  coming,  and  he  advised  his 
friend  to  retreat,  and  not  risk  his  life  in  a  contest 
with  two  such  heroes  as  ^neas  and  Pandarus,  one 
the  son  of  a  goddess,  and  the  other  excelling  all 
men  in  the  use  of  the  bow.  But  Diomede  sternly 
refused  to  retire  from  the  conflict.  Nor  would  he 
even  consent  to  mount  his  chariot  as  Sthenelus 
urged  him  to  do. 

"As  I  am,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  advance  against 
them,  for  Minerva  has  made  me  fearless.  And  if  it 
be  my  fortune  to  slay  both,  do  you,  Stnemehis?seize 
the  horses  of  /Knra>  and 'drive  them  into  the  ranks 
of  the  Greeks.  Valuable-  prizes  they  will  be,  for  they 


I29 

are  of  that  heavenly  breed  which  Jupiter  gave  to 
King  Tros  as  the  price  of  his  son  Ganymede." 

But  now  the  chariot  of  /Eneas  was  close  at  hand. 
This  time  Pandarus  used  his  spear,  which  he 
launched  with  great  force.  It  struck  the  shield  of 
Diomede  and,  piercing  it  through,  fixed  itself  in  his 
breastplate.  With  a  shout  of  joy  Pandarus  ex- 
claimed, "  Now,  I  think,  I  have  given  you  your 
death  wound." 

"  Not  so,"  replied  the  son  of  Tydeus,  "  thou  hast 
missed  thy  aim,  but  one  of  you,  at  least,  shall  die." 
As  he  spoke  he  hurled  his  lance.  Directed  by 
Minerva,  the  weapon  flew  right  into  the  face  of  the 
unfortunate  Pandarus,  striking  him  lifeless  to  the 
earth. 

Headlong  he  falls,  his  helmet  knocks  the  ground; 
Earth  groans  beneath  him,  and  his  arms  resound. 

POPE,  Iliad.  Book  V. 

Instantly  ^neas  leaped  down  from  his  chariot, 
with  his  shield  and  spear,  to  defend  the  body  of  his 
heroic  comrade  against  being  despoiled  by  the 
Greeks.  This  was  one  of  the  customs  of  war  in 
those  times.  When  a  hero  was  slain  in  battle  the 
enemy  carried  off  his  arms  and  armor  as  trophies  of 
victory.  But  ./Eneas  did  his  best  to  protect  the 
corpse  of  his  fallen  friend  from  being  thus  dis- 
honored. 

STO.  OF  TROY  —  Q 


1 3o 

Watchful  he  wheels,  protects  it  every  way, 

As  the  grim  lion  stalks  around  his  prey. 

O'er  the  fall'n  trunk  his  ample  shield  display'd, 

He  hides  the  hero  with  his  mighty  shade, 

And  threats  aloud!  the  Greeks  with  longing  eyes 

Behold  at  distance,  but  forbear  the  prize. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

But    Diomede,  braver  than  the   rest,  took   up  a 
great  stone  and  hurled  it  at  ^neas. 

Not  two  strong  men  the  enormous  weight  could  raise, 
Such  men  as  live  in  these  degenerate  days. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book.  V. 

It  struck  the  Trojan  hero  on  the  hip,  tearing  the 
flesh  and  crushing  the  joint.  He  sank  upon  his  knees, 
a  dark  mist  covering  his  eyes.  And  now  ^Eneas 
would  have  perished  by  the  sword  of  the  furious 
Diomede  had  not  his  mother,  Venus,  come  quickly 
to  his  aid.  With  her  shining  robe  the  goddess 
shielded  his  body,  and  spreading  her  arms  about 
him  she  bore  him  away  from  the  battle.  Then 
Sthenelus,  not  forgetting  the  bidding  of  his  friend, 
rushed  forward,  and,  seizing  the  fleet  steeds  of  the 
Dardan  prince,  drove  them  off  to  the  Grecian  camp. 
But  Diomede  went  in  pursuit  of  Venus.  He  had 
seen  and  recognized  her  as  she  descended  on  the 
field,  Minerva  having  given  him  power  of  sight  to 
know  gods  from  men.  The  goddess  also,  as  we  have 


seen,  commanded  him  to  wound  Venus  should  she 
come  into  the  field.  Diomede,  therefore,  when  he 
had  overtaken  Venus,  as  she  was  bearing  away  the 
Trojan  hero,  thrust  at  her  with  his  lance,  and  pierced 
the  skin  of  her  tender  hand.  From  the  wound  out 
gushed  the  I'chor,  as  the  blood  of  the  gods  was  called. 

The  ichor,  —  such 

As  from  the  blessed  gods  may  flow  ;  for  they 
Eat  not  the  wheaten  loaf,  nor  drink  dark  wine; 
And  therefore  they  are  bloodless,  and  are  called 
Immortal. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

Crying  aloud  with  pain,  the  goddess  dropped  her 
son  from  her  arms,  but  Apollo  enveloped  him  in  a 
thick  cloud,  thus  saving  him  from  the  wrath  of  the 
furious  Greeks.  Meanwhile  the  swift-footed  Iris 
hastened  down  from  heaven  to  the  aid  of  Venus, 
whom  she  conducted  to  where  Marssat  on  the  left 
of  the  battlefield,  watching  the  conflict.  At  the 
entreaty  of  his  wounded  sister, 

Mars  resigned  to  her  his  steeds 

With  trappings  of  bright  gold.     She  climbed  the  car, 
Still  grieving,  and,  beside  her,  Iris  took 
Her  seat,  and  caught  the  reins  and  plied  the  lash. 
On  flew  the  coursers,  on,  with  willing  speed, 
And  soon  were  at  the  mansion  of  the  gods 
On  high  Olympus. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  V. 


132 

There  the  goddess  was  affectionately  received  rjy 
her  mother,  Di-o'ne,  who  begged  her  to  be  patient, 
reminding  her  that  in  times  past  others  of  the  gods 
had  suffered  by  the  hands  of  men.  Mars,  she  said, 
was  chained  in  a  brazen  cell  for  fifteen  months  by 
the  giants  O'tus  and  Eph-i-al'tes,  and  he  would  per- 
haps have  perished  there  but  that  Mercury  set  him 
free  by  stealing  into  the  cell,  and  slipping  the  chains 
out  of  the  rings  to  which  they  were  fastened.  Juno 
herself,  and  Pluto,  the  god  of  Hades,  were  wounded 
by  Hercules.  "As  for  this  son  of  Tydeus,"  said 
Dione,  "who  has  dared  to  war  upon  an  immortal, 
he  shall  be  punished  for  his  crime." 

"The  fool! 

He  knew  not  that  the  man  who  dares  to  meet 
The  gods  in  combat  lives  not  long.  No  child 
Shall  prattling  call  him  father  when  he  comes 
Returning  from  the  dreadful  tasks  of  war." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

Dione  then  wiped  the  ichor  from  the  hand  of  Venus, 
and  at  her  touch  the  wound  healed  and  the  pain 
ceased. 

Meanwhile,  on  the  plain  before  Troy  Diomede 
still  eagerly  pursued  yEneas,  though  knowing  that 
the  hero  was  under  divine  protection.  Thrice  did 
he  rush  on,  and  thrice  did  Apollo  drive  him  back, 
but  when  ho  made  the  fourth  attempt, 


133 

The  archer  of  the  skies,  Apollo,  thus 

With  menacing  words  rebuked  him:   "  Diomed, 

Beware;  desist,  nor  think  to  make  thyself 

The  equal  of  a  god.     The  deathless  race 

Of  gods  is  not  as  those  who  walk  the  earth." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  V, 

Diomede  shrank  back,  fearmg  the  wrath  of  the 
Far-darter,  and  Apollo  bore  ^Eneas  away,  and  set 
him  down  in  his  own  temple  in  sacred  Per'ga-mus, 
the  citadel  of  Troy.  There  Diana  and  La-to'na,  the 
mother  of  Apollo,  healed  his  wound  and  restored 
his  health  and  strength.  Then  Apollo  begged  Mars 
to  assist  the  Trojans  in  the  battle,  and  particularly 
to  drive  from  the  field  the  impious  son  of  Tydeus, 
who  had  dared  to  attack  the  immortals  with  his 
spear,  and  would  now  fight  even  with  Jupiter  him- 
self. The  god  of  war  consented,  and  assuming  the 
form  of  Ac  a-mas,  a  Thracian  leader,  he  went 
through  the  Trojan  ranks  encouraging  the  chiefs  to 
fight  bravely. 

"  O  sons  of  Priam,  him  who  claims  descent 
From  Jupiter!   how  long  will  ye  submit 
To  see  your  people  slaughtered  by  the  Greeks? 
Is  it  until  the  battle-storm  shall  reach 
Your  city's  stately  portals?  " 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

The  hero  Sarpedon  also  appealed  to  Hector,  and 
then  the  Trojan  commander  in  chief,  leaping  from 


134 

his  chariot,   and    brandishing   his   javelins,  rushed 
among  his  troops  exhorting  them  to  battle. 

Terrible 

The  conflict  that  ensued.     The  men  of  Troy 
Made  head  against  the  Greeks:  the  Greeks  stood  firm, 
Nor  ever  thought  of  flight. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

Soon,  however,  the  Greeks  were  forced  to  fall 
back.  Their  great  chiefs,  Agamemnon  and  Mene- 
laus,  and  the  two  Ajaxes  and  Ulysses,  performed 
wondrous  deeds  of  courage,  slaying  many  Trojan 
warriors.  But  Minerva  had  left  the  field,  and  Mars 
was  fighting  on  the  Trojan  side.  ^Eneas,  too,  had 
returned  to  the  battle  with  renewed  strength  and 
courage,  and  Hector  and  Sarpedon  were  in  the  front, 
dealing  death  among  the  enemy.  The  fierce  god  of 
war  and  mighty  Hector  fought  side  by  side,  and  they 
slew  numbers  of  Argive  warriors. 

Such  destruction  of  her  beloved  Greeks  was  not 
pleasing  to  Juno,  who  was  watching  the  conflict 
from  her  place  on  high  Olympus,  and  she  begged  of 
Jupiter  to  permit  her  to  drive  Mars  from  the  battle. 
Jupiter  consented,  but  he  advised  her  to  intrust  that 
work  to  Minerva,  who  had  often  before  "  brought 
grievous  troubles  on  the  god  of  war."  Juno  obeyed. 
Then  the  two  goddesses,  who  had  already  mounted 
the  queen  of  heaven's  own  grand  chariot,  glittering 


135 

with  gold  and  silver  and  brass,  set  out  for  the  Gre- 
cian camp. 

Eight  brazen  spokes  in  radiant  order  flame; 
The  circles  gold,  of  uncorrupted  frame, 
Such  as  the  heavens  produce:  and  round  the  gold 
Two  brazen  rings  of  work  divine  were  roll'd. 
The  bossy  naves  of  solid  silver  shone; 
Braces  of  gold  suspend  the  moving  throne; 
The  car,  behind,  an  arching  figure  bore; 
The  bending  concave  form'd  an  arch  before. 
Silver  the  beam,  the  extended  yoke  was  gold, 
And  golden  reins  the  immortal  coursers  hold. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  V, 

Riding  in  this  magnificent  chariot,  driven  by  Juno 
herself,  "  midway  between  the  earth  and  the  starry 
heaven,"  the  goddesses  descended  upon  the  plain  of 
Troy,  near  where  the  Simois  and  the  Scamander 
united  their  streams.  There  they  alighted,  and  cast 
a  dense  mist  around  the  chariot  and  the  steeds  to 
hide  them  from  mortal  view.  Then  they  hastened 
to  where  the  bravest  of  the  Greek  chiefs  were  stand- 
ing around  the  warrior  Diomede,  Juno  likening  her- 
self to  the  herald  Sten'tor,  who  had  a  voice  louder 
than  the  shout  of  fifty  men. 

Stentor  the  strong,  endued  with  brazen  lungs, 
Whose  throat  surpass'd  the  force  of  fifty  tongues. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

Appearing  before  the  Greek  chiefs  in  the  form  of 


136 

the  loud-voiced  herald,  the  queen  of  heaven  cried  out 
in  words  of  reproof: 

"  Shame  upon  you,  Argives !  You  are  heroes  only 
in  name.  While  the  divine  Achilles  was  with  you, 
fighting  at  the  front,  the  Trojans  dared  not  advance 
beyond  their  gates,  for  they  dreaded  his  mighty 
spear ;  but  now  they  are  almost  at  your  ships." 

Minerva,  too,  severely  censured  Diomede  for  hold- 
ing back  from  the  battle,  but  the  warrior  answered 
that  it  was  by  her  command  that  he  had  refrained 
from  attacking  Mars.  "  You  did  not  permit  me," 
said  he, "  to  fight  with  any  of  the  gods  except  Venus." 

"  Fear  not  this  Mars  at  all,"  answered  Minerva, 
"  nor  any  of  the  immortals.  Come  now  and  direct 
your  steeds  against  the  war  god,  and  I  will  be  with 
you."  So  saying,  and  putting  on  her  head  the  hel- 
met of  Pluto,  which  made  any  person  who  wore  it 
invisible,  she  mounted  the  chariot  beside  the  brave 
Diomede,  and,  seizing  the  reins,  drove  rapidly  to 
where  the  fierce  Mars  was  slaying  Greek  warriors. 

As  soon  as  Mars  beheld  Diomede  approaching,  he 
rushed  against  him,  and  hurled  his  brazen  spear; 
but  Minerva  grasped  the  weapon  and  turned  it  aside 
from  the  chariot.  Diomede  now  thrust  forward  his 
lance,  Minerva  directing  it,  and  adding  her  strength 
to  give  force  to  the  blow.  It  pierced  the  loin  of  the 
war  god,  making  a  deep  wound. 


137 

Mars  bellows  with  the  pain: 
Loud  as  the  roar  encountering  armies  yield, 
When  shouting  millions  shake  the  thundering  field. 
Both  armies  start,  and  trembling  gaze  around ; 
And  earth  and  heaven  rebellow  to  the  sound. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  V. 

The  wounded  god  disappeared  in  a  dark  cloud, 
and,  quickly  ascending  to  Olympus,  made  bitter  com- 
plaint to  Jupiter  against  Minerva.  But  the  king  of 
heaven  sternly  reproved  him,  saying  that  he  had 
brought  his  sufferings  upon  himself,  for  discord  and 
wars  were  always  his  delight.  Nevertheless  he  or- 
dered Pae'on,  the  physician  of  the  gods,  to  heal  the 
wound,  which  was  immediately  done. 

Meanwhile  Juno  and  Minerva  returned  to  Olym- 
pus, Mars  being  removed  from  the  battlefield.  And 
now  the  fortune  of  war  began  to  favor  the  Greeks. 
The  Trojans,  no  longer  aided  by  a  god  fighting  on 
their  side,  were  driven  back  to  their  walls,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  they  were  about  to  be  totally  defeated. 
In  this  perilous  situation  Helenas,  the  prophet  and 
soothsayer,  advised  his  brother  Hector  to  go  quickly 
into  the  city,  and  request  their  mother,  the  queen,  to 
call  together  the  matrons  of  Troy,  and  with  them  to 
offer  up  sacrifices  and  prayers  in  the  temple  of  Min- 
erva, begging  the  help  and  protection  of  that  god- 
dess. The  advice  seemed  good  to  Hector.  Leaping 
from  his  chariot,  he  went  through  the  army  bidding 


138 

the  warriors  to  fight  bravely  during  his  absence. 
Then  he  hastened  to  the  city.  At  the  Scaean  Gate 
he  was  met  by  crowds  of  anxious  wives  and  mothers 
and  daughters,  who  eagerly  inquired  for  their  hus- 
bands, sons,  and  brothers. 

He  admonished  all 

Duly  to  importune  the  gods  in  prayer, 
For  woe,  he  said,  was  near  to  many  a  one. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VI. 

Arriving  at  the  royal  palace  Hector  was  met  by 
his  mother,  who  offered  him  wine  to  refresh  him- 
self with.  But  the  hero  would  not  taste  the  liquor. 
"  Do  not  ask  me  to  drink  wine,  dear  mother,"  he 
said,  "  for  it  would  enfeeble  me,  and  deprive  me  of 
my  strength  and  valor." 

"  Inflaming  wine,  pernicious  to  mankind, 
Unnerves  the  limbs,  and  dulls  the  noble  mind." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  VI. 

Then  Hector  told  his  mother  why  he  had  come 
from  the  field  of  battle.  She  gladly  consented  to 
do  as  her  son  requested,  and  so  Queen  Hecuba  and 
the  matrons  of  Troy  went  to  the  temple  of  Minerva, 
and  prayed  and  offered  sacrifices.  But  the  goddess 
refused  to  hear  their  prayers,  for  she  still  hated  |he 
Trojans  because  of  the  never-forgotten  judgment 
onJMoimt  Ida. 

Meantime  the  hero  went  to  the  palace  of  Paris, 


139 

whom  he  found  in  his  chamber,  handling  and  pre- 
paring his  armor,  while  Helen  sat  near  him  with 
her  maids,  directing  their  various  tasks.  Angry  at 
seeing  his  brother  thus  engaged,  instead  of  being  in 
the  front  of  the  fight,  Hector  reproached  him  in 
sharp  and  bitter  words. 

"  The  people,"  said  he,  "  are  perishing,  the  conflict 
rages  round  the  walls,  and  all  on  your  account. 
Arise,  then,  and  act,  lest  our  city  soon  be  in  flames." 
Paris  answered  mildly,  saying  that  he  deserved  his 
brother's  censure,  and  promising  that  he  would  im- 
mediately repair  to  the  field  of  battle. 

Hector  next  proceeded  to  his  own  home  to  visit 
his  dear  wife,  An-drom'a-che,  and  his  infant  son; 
"for  I  know  not,"  said  he,  "whether  I  shall  ever 
return  to  them  again."  Arriving  at  the  palace,  he 
learned  from  Andromache's  maids  that  their  mis- 
tress had  just  gone  towards  the  city  walls. 

"  To  the  lofty  tower  of  Troy  she  went 
When  it  was  told  her  that  the  Trojan  troops 
Lost  heart,  and  that  the  valor  of  the  Greeks 
Prevailed.     She  now  is  hurrying  toward  the  walls, 
Like  one  distracted,  with  her  son  and  nurse." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VI. 

Leaving  the  palace,  Hector  hastened  through  the 
city,  and,  arriving  at  the  Scaean  Gate,  he  there  met 
Andromache  and  her  nurse,  the  latter  bearing  in 


140 

her  arms  the  infant  Sca-man'dri-us.  His  father  had 
given  the  child  this  name,  from  the  name  of  the 
river,  but  the  people  called  him  As-ty'a-nax,  mean- 
ing "city-king."  The  lines  in  which  Homer 
describes  the  interview  which  here  took  place 
between  the  noble  Hector  and  his  loving  wife,  are 
among  the  most  beautiful  of  the  whole  Iliad. 
Andromache  was  a  daughter  of  E-e'ti-on,  king  of 
Thebe,  the  town  from  which  the  maiden  Chryseis 
was  carried  away.  Eetion  and  all  his  family  had 
been  slain,  with  the  exception  of  Andromache,  who 
therefore  had  now  neither  parents  nor  brothers  nor 
sisters.  Of  this  she  spoke  in  touching  words,  while 
entreating  Hector  to  remain  within  the  city  and  not 
again  risk  his  life  in  battle. 

11  Too  brave!  thy  valor  yet  will  cause  thy  death: 
Thou  hast  no  pity  on  thy  tender  child, 
Nor  me,  unhappy  one,  who  soon  must  be 
Thy  widow.     All  the  Greeks  will  rush  on  thee 
To  take  thy  life.     A  happier  lot  were  mine, 
If  I  must  lose  thee,  t»  go  down  to  earth, 
For  I  shall  have  no  hope  when  thou  art  gone,— 
Nothing  but  sorrow.     Father  I  have  none, 
And  no  dear  mother.     Great  Achilles  slew 
My  father  when  he  sacked  the  populous  town 
Of  the  Cilicians, —  Thebe  with  high  gates. 

Hector,  thou 

Art  father  and  dear  mother  now  to  me, 
And  brother  and  my  youthful  spouse  besides. 


In  pity  keep  within  the  fortress  here, 

Nor  make  thy  child  an  orphan  nor  thy  wife 

A  widow." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VI. 

Hector  was  deeply  moved  by  these  words,  but  he 
could  not  think  of  deserting  his  brave  companions. 

"All  this 

I  bear  in  mind,  dear  wife;  but  I  should  stand 
Ashamed  before  the  men  and  long-robed  dames 
Of  Troy,  were  I  to  keep  aloof  and  shun 
The  conflict,  cowardlike.      Not  thus  my  heart 
Prompts  me,  for  greatly  have  I  learned  to  dare 
And  strike  among  the  foremost  sons  of  Troy, 
Upholding  my  great  father's  fame  and  mine; 
Yet  well  in  my  undoubting  mind  I  know 
The  day  shall  come  in  which  our  sacred  Troy, 
And  Priam,  and  the  people  over  whom 
Spear-bearing  Priam  rules,  shall  perish  all." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VI. 

But  it  was  not  the  dark  prospect  of  his  country's 
ruin  that  grieved  the  loving  husband  so  much  as 
the  thought  that  his  wife  might  some  day  be  car- 
ried off  as  a  slave  by  the  conquering  Greeks. 

''But  not  the  sorrows  of  the  Trojan  race, 
Nor  those  of  Hecuba  herself,  nor  those 
Of  royal  Priam,  nor  the  woes  that  wait 
My  brothers  many  and  brave,  — who  all  at  last, 
Slain  by  the  pitiless  foe,  shall  lie  in  dust,  — 
Grieve  me  so  much  as  thine,  when  some  mailed  Greek 


&fBI 


H3 

Shall  lead  thee  weeping  hence,  and  take  from  thee 
Thy  day  of  freedom.  .  .  . 

O  let  the  earth 

Be  heaped  above  my  head  in  death  before 
I  hear  thy  cries  as  thou  art  borne  away!  " 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VI. 

Then  Hector  stretched  out  his  hands  to  embrace 
his  son,  but  the  little  fellow  shrank  back  and 
screamed  in  fright  at  the  nodding  crest  on  his 
father's  helmet.  Both  parents  gently  smiled,  and 
Hector,  taking  off  his  helmet,  and  placing  it  on  the 
ground,  kissed  his  boy,  and  fondled  him  in  his  arms, 
praying  to  the  gods  that  he  might  become  a  brave 
warrior,  and  the  defender  of  his  country. 

"  O  Jupiter  and  all  ye  deities, 
Vouchsafe  that  this  my  son  may  yet  become 
Among  the  Trojans  eminent  like  me, 
And  nobly  rule  in  Ilium.     May  they  say, 
'This  man  is  greater  than  his  father  was.'  ' 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VI. 

The  parting  between  the  hero  and  his  sorrowing 
wife  was  very  affecting.  Andromache  received  the 
infant  from  his  father's  arms,  mingling  tears  with 
her  smiles  as  she  looked  into  the  face  of  her  child. 

The  chief 

Beheld,  and,  moved  with  tender  pity,  smoothed 
Her  forehead  gently  with  his  hand  and  said: 


144 

"  Sorrow  not  thus,  beloved  one,  for  me. 
No  living  man  can  send  me  to  the  shades 
Before  my  time ;  no  man  of  woman  born, 
Coward  or  brave,  can  shun  his  destiny. 
But  go  thou  home,  and  tend  thy  labors  there,  — 
The  web,  the  distaff,  — and  command  thy  maids 
To  speed  the  work.     The  cares  of  war  pertain 
To  all  men  born  in  Troy,  and  most  to  me." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VI. 

Then  Hector  took  his  helmet  from  the  ground, 
and  Andromache  departed  for  her  home,  "oft  look- 
ing back,  and  shedding  many  tears." 

As  the  hero  went  out  at  the  Scaean  Gate,  after 
taking  leave  of  his  wife,  he  met  Paris,  arrayedJn  his 
shining  armor,  and  eager  to  join  the  battle.  To- 
gether they  rushed  into  the  plain,  and  slew  many  of 
the  enemy.  The  goddess  Minerva,  observing  that 
the  battle  was  going  against  the  Greeks,  quickly 
descended  from  the  top  of  Olympus.  Apollo,  see- 
ing her  from  the  Trojan  citadel,  hastened  to  meet 
her,  and  he  proposed  that  they  should  now  bring 
the  conflict  to  an  end  for  the  day.  With  this  object, 
Minerva  having  consented,  they  both  agreed  to  cause 
Hector  to  challenge  one  of  the  Greek  warriors  to 
engage  with  him  in  single  combat.  Helenus,  being 
a  soothsayer,  knew  the  purpose  of  the  gods,  and  he 
told  his  brother.  "  But,"  said  he,  "you  shall  not  fall 
in  the  fight,  for  it  is  not  thy  fate  yet  to  perish. 


145 

Thus  have  the  immortal  gods  spoken,  and  I  have 
heard  their  voice." 

Hector  rejoiced  at  his  brother's  words,  and  imme- 
diately advancing  to  the  front  of  the  army  he  com- 
manded the  Trojans  to  cease  fighting. 

He  bore  his  spear, 

Holding  it  in  the  middle,  and  pressed  back 
The  ranks  of  Trojans,  and  they  all  sat  down. 
And  Agamemnon  caused  the  well-armed  Greeks 
To  sit  down  also. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VII. 

Then  the  Trojan  chief,  standing  between  the  two 
hosts,  spoke  in  a  loud  voice,  and  challenged  the 
bravest  of  the  Greeks  to  engage  with  him  in  mortal 
combat.  For  a  few  moments  there  was  silence  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Argives.  Even  the  boldest  of  them 
hesitated  at  the  thought  of  fighting  such  a  warrior 
as  Hector.  At  length  Menelaus,  rising  from  his 
seat,  declared  that  he  was  ready  to  accept  the  chal- 
lenge, and  so  he  put  on  his  armor.  But  Agamem- 
non held  him  back,  warning  him  against  rashly 
venturing  into  a  conflict  with  a  man  who  was  much 
stronger  and  braver  than  he,  and  whom  every  other 
chief,  even  Achilles  himself,  regarded  with  fear. 

Nestor  then  arose,  and  in  severe  words  upbraided 
his  countrymen  for  their  want  of  courage.  "  Would 
that  my  frame  were  unworn  with  years,"  he  ex- 


STO.  OF  TROY —  IO 


146 

claimed,  "then  Hector  should  soon  find  a  foe  to 
meet  him ;  but  now  among  the  bravest  of  the 
Achaians  there  is  no  one  to  meet  the  Trojan  leader 


in  arms." 


The  venerable  Nestor  had  no  sooner  ceased 
speaking  than  nine  warriors  started  to  their  feet, 
every  one  eager  for  the  honor  of  being  permitted  to 
accept  the  challenge  of  Hector.  Among  them  were 
Agamemnon,  the  two  Ajaxes,  Diomede,  and  Ulysses. 
Nestor  then  proposed  that  one  should  be  chosen 
by  lot.  This  was  agreed  to,  and  lots  being  cast,  the 
honor  fell  to  Ajax  Telamon,  the  mightiest  and  most 
valiant  of  the  Greeks  except  Achilles.  The  hero 
greatly  rejoiced,  believing  that  he  would  conquer 
Hector,  and  so  he  quickly  put  on  his  armor,  and 
went  forward  to  the  ground  marked  out  for  the 
combat. 


His  massy  javelin  quivering  in  his  hand, 
He  stood,  the  bulwark  of  the  Grecian  band. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  VII. 

Hector  having  also  taken  his  place  on  the  ground, 
the  combat  began.  First  the  Trojan  chief,  brand- 
ishing his  long  spear,  hurled  it  at  his  foe.  Ajax 
received  it  on  his  shield,  which  was  made  of  seven 
folds  of  oxhides  and  an  eighth  fold  of  solid  brass. 
Through  six  of  the  hides  the  weapon  of  Hector 
pierced,  but  it  stuck  fast  in  the  seventh. 


147 

Then  the  Grecian  champion  sent  forth  his  javelin. 
It  passed  right  through  Hector's  shield  and  corselet, 
and  might  have  proved  fatal,  had  the  hero  not 
quickly  bent  aside  his  body.  Again  both  cham- 
pions launched  spears,  one  after  the  other.  This 
time  Hector  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  neck. 
Nothing  daunted,  however,  he  seized  a  huge  stone 
which  lay  at  his  feet,  and  hurled  it  at  Ajax.  It 
struck  the  hero's  shield  and  the  brass  resounded 
with  the  blow.  Quickly  the  Argive  warrior  took 
up  a  much  larger  stone,  and  flung  it  at  his  antago- 
nist with  tremendous  force.  The  stone  crashed 
through  Hector's  shield,  and,  striking  him  on  the 
knee,  stretched  him  flat  on  the  ground.  But  Apollo 
instantly  raised  him  up,  renewing  his  strength,  and 
then  with  their  swords  the  two  heroes  fell  upon  each 
other,  fighting  hand  to  hand.  At  this  point,  night 
having  come  on,  two  heralds,  one  from  the  Trojan 
army,  the  other  from  the  Greek,  approached  the  cham- 
pions, and  ordered  them  to  cease  fighting,  I-dae'us,  the 
Trojan  herald,  giving  the  command  in  a  loud  voice: 

''Cease  to  contend,  dear  sons,  in  deadly  fray; 
Ye  both  are  loved  by  cloud-compelling  Jove, 
And  both  are  great  in  war,  as  all  men  know. 
The  night  is  come;  be  then  the  night  obeyed." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VII. 

Ajax  answered  that  as  it  was  Hector  who  gave 


148 

the  challenge,  it  was  for  him  first  to  speak  of  truce. 
Hector  replied,  speaking  words  of  praise  and  ad- 
miration for  his  antagonist,  and  saying  that  they 
should  now  cease  from  battle  for  the  day. 

"  Since,  then,  the  night  extends  her  gloomy  shade, 
And  heaven  enjoins  it,  be  the  night  obey'd. 
Return,  brave  Ajax,  to  thy  Grecian  friends, 
And  joy  the  nations  whom  thy  arm  defends; 
But  let  us,  on  this  memorable  day, 
Exchange  some  gift:  that  Greece  and  Troy  may  say 
*  Not  hate,  but  glory,  made  these  chiefs  contend; 
And  each  brave  foe  was  in  his  soul  a  friend.'  ' 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  VII. 

Then  Hector  gave  Ajax  a  silver-studded  sword 
with  scabbard,  and  Ajax  presented  to  Hector  a  belt 
of  rich  purple.  Thus  ended  the  terrible  conflict 
which  had  raged  throughout  the  day,  and  the  two 
heroes  retired,  each  joyfully  welcomed  by  his  com- 
rades and  friends. 

Then  they  both  departed,  — one 
To  join  the  Grecian  host,  and  one  to  meet 
The  Trojan  people,  who  rejoiced  to  see 
Hector  alive,  unwounded,  and  now  safe 
From  the  great  might  and  irresistible  arm 
Of  Ajax.     Straightway  to  the  town  they  led 
Him  for  whose  life  they  scarce  had  dared  to  hope. 
And  Ajax  also  by  the  well-armed  Greeks, 
Exulting  in  his  feats  of  arms,  was  brought 
To  noble  Agamemnon. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VII. 


IX.     THE  SECOND  BATTLE  — EXPLOIT  OF 
DIOMEDE  AND  ULYSSES. 

Before  the  Greek  leaders  retired  to  rest  for  the 
night,  they  held  a  council  in  the  tent  of  Agamem- 
non, at  which  they  resolved  to  perform  funeral  rites, 
early  in  the  morning,  in  honor  of  their  comrades 
who  had  been  slain  in  the  battle.  They  also 
resolved,  on  the  advice  of  Nestor,  to  build  a  strong 
wall  and  dig  a  deep  trench  in  front  of  their  camp, 
that  their  ships  might  be  secure  against  the  attacks 
of  the  enemy. 

The  Trojan  chiefs,  too,  held  a  council.  They 
were  discouraged  by  their  losses  in  the  battle,  and 
many  of  them  thought  that  they  could  not  now 
succeed  in  the  war,  because  of  the  treacherous  act 
of  Pandarus  in  breaking  the  league.  The  wise 
Antenor  was  of  this  opinion,  and  in  his  speech  at 
the  council  he  advised  that  Helen  and  her  treasures 
should  be  given  up  to  the  Greeks. 

"  Send  we  the  Argive  Helen  back  with  all 
Her  treasures;  let  the  sons  of  Atreus  lead 
The  dame  away;  for  now  we  wage  the  war 
149 


150 

After  our  faith  is  broken,  and  I  deem 
We  cannot  prosper  till  we  make  amends." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VII. 

But  Paris  would  not  agree  to  this.  He  was  will- 
ing to  give  up  Helen's  treasures,  and  to  give  treasure 
of  his  own  as  compensation  to  the  Greeks,  but 
he  would  not  consent  to  restore  Helen  herself. 
King  Priam  weakly  gave  way  to  his  son,  and 
ordered  that  a  herald  should  be  sent  to  the  Greek 
leaders  to  tell  them  of  the  offer  of  Paris,  and  to  re- 
quest that  fighting  should  not  be  resumed  until  the 
dead  should  be  taken  from  the  battlefield,  and  funeral 
services  performed. 

Accordingly  the  Trojan  herald  Idaeus  went  next 
morning  to  the  tent  of  Agamemnon.  There  he 
found  the  Argive  chiefs  assembled.  Upon  hearing 
his  message,  they  scornfully  rejected  the  terms  pro- 
posed by  Paris,  but  they  agreed  to  a  truce  for  the 
funeral  ceremonies.  Idaeus  returned  to  the  city,  and 
told  the  Trojan  leaders  of  the  answer  he  had  re- 
ceived. Both  Greeks  and  Trojans  then  began  col- 
lecting their  dead  from  the  field  and  building  great 
piles  of  wood,  or  pyres,  to  burn  the  bodies  upon. 

All  wailing,  silently  they  bore  away 

Their  slaughtered  friends,  and  heaped  them  on  the  pyre 
With  aching  hearts,  and,  when  they  had  consumed 
The  dead  with  fire,  returned  to  hallowed  Troy. 


The  nobly-armed  Achaians  also  heaped 
Their  slaughtered  warriors  on  the  funeral  pile 
With  aching  hearts;  and  when  they  had  consumed 
Their  dead  with  fire  they  sought  their  hollow  ships. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VII. 

Before  dawn  next  morning  the  Greeks  set  about 
building  a  wall  and  digging  a  trench  on  the  side 
of  their  camp  facing  Troy,  as  Nestor  had  advised. 
They  finished  the  work  in  one  day,  and  a  mighty 
work  it  was.  The  wall  was  strengthened  with  lofty 
towers,  and  the  gates  were  so  large  that  chariots 
could  pass  through.  The  trench  was  broad  and 
deep,  and  on  the  outer  edge  it  was  defended  by 
.strong,  sharp  stakes.  The  gods,  looking  down  from 
Olympus,  admired  these  labors,  but  Neptune,  much 
displeased,  made  bitter  complaint  to  Jupiter: 

"  Now  will  the  fame 

Of  this  their  work  go  forth  wherever  shines 
The  light  of  day,  and  men  will  quite  forget 
The  wall  which  once  we  built  with  toiling  hands  — 
Phoebus  Apollo  and  myself — around 
The  city  of  renowned  Laomedon." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VII. 

But  Jupiter  relieved  the  anxiety  of  the  ocean 
god  by  telling  him  that  when  the  war  was  over, 
and  the  Greeks  had  departed  from  Troy,  he  might 
overthrow  the  great  wall  with  his  waves,  and 


152 

cover  the  shore  with  sand.     Thus  the  Grecian  bul- 
wark would  vanish  from  the  plain. 

After  their  great  labors  on  the  wall  and  trench 
the  Greeks  feasted  in  their  tents,  and  next  day,  the 
truce  being  now  ended,  both  armies  prepared  for 
battle.  Meanwhile  Jupiter  held  a  council  on  high 
Olympus,  at  which  he  gave  strict  command  that 
none  of  the  gods  should  take  part  on  either  side  in 
the  fight  before  Troy;  and  he  declared  that  if 
any  of  them  should  disobey  this  order,  he  would 
hurl  the  offender  down  into  the  dark  pit  of  Tar'- 
ta-rus,  in  the  gloomy  kingdom  of  Pluto. 

Deep,  deep  in  the  great  gulf  below  the  earth, 
With  iron  gates  and  threshold  forged  of  brass. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VIII. 


But  Minerva  begged  that  she  might  be  permitted 
to  assist  the  Greeks  by  her  advice.  To  this  the  king 
of  heaven  assented.  Then  mounting  his  chariot,  to 
which  were  yoked  his  brazen-footed,  swift-flying 
steeds,  adorned  with  golden  manes,  he  sped  through 
the  skies  between  the  earth  and  starry  heaven  to  the 
summit  of  Mount  Ida.  There  in  a  sacred  inclosure 
in  which  was  an  altar  erected  to  him,  the  father  of 
the  gods  sat  looking  down  upon  the  towers  of  Ilium 
and  the  ships  of  the  Greeks.  The  two  hosts,  led  by 
their  great  chiefs,  were  now  engaged  in  fierce  battle. 


Drawn  by  Hubbcll. 


JUPITER  ON  MOUNT  IDA. 


(153) 


154 

The  sounding  darts  in  iron  tempests  flew; 
Victors  and  vanquished  join  promiscuous  cries, 
Triumphant  shouts  and  dying  groans  arise; 
With  streaming  blood  the  slippery  fields  are  dyed, 
And  slaughter'd  heroes  swell  the  dreadful  tide. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  VIII. 

Thus  the  terrible  conflict  went  on  until  midday, 
when  Jupiter,  taking  in  his  hand  the  golden  scales 
of  fate,  weighed  the  fortunes  of  the  Trojans  and 

Greeks. 

By  the  midst 

He  held  the  balance,  and,  behold,  the  fate 
Of  Greece  in  that  day's  fight  sank  down  until 
It  touched  the  nourishing  earth,  while  that  of  Troy 
Rose  and  flew  upward  toward  the  spacious  heaven. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VIII. 

Then  the  mighty  god  thundered  from  Mount  Ida, 
and  sent  his  lightnings  burning  and  flashing  down 
against  the  army  of  the  Greeks.  In  amazement  and 
terror  the  Argive  chiefs  fled  from  the  field.  Nestor 
alone  remained,  though  not  willingly,  for  he  too  was 
seeking  safety  in  flight  when  one  of  the  horses  of  his 
chariot  was  killed  by  an  arrow  from  the  bow  of  Paris. 
The  venerable  king  himself  might  have  perished  at 
the  hands  of  Hector,  had  not  Diomede  hastened  up 
and  taken  him  into  his  own  chariot. 

Both  warriors  then  advanced  against  the  Trojan 
chief,  and  Diomede  hurled  his  javelin.  The  weapon 


155 

missed  Hector,  but  killed  his  charioteer.  Still  rush- 
ing on,  the  brave  son  of  Tydeus  was  about  to  cast 
another  spear,  when  a  terrific  bolt  of  lightning 
flashed  from  the  heavens  and  tore  up  the  earth  in 
front  of  his  steeds.  Looking  upon  this  as  a  sign  of 
the  anger  of  Jupiter,  the  two  heroes  hastily  retreated 
towards  their  camp.  Hector  pursued  them,  and  the 
Trojans,  encouraged  by  his  example,  now  pressed 
forward  until  the  Greeks  were  driven  in  behind  their 
trench  and  wall.  Then  Agamemnon,  in  deep  de- 
spair, prayed  to  almighty  Jove  that  he  would  at  least 
permit  him  and  his  people  to  get  away  in  safety 
with  their  ships. 

"  Now  be  at  least  one  wish  of  mine  fulfilled, — 
That  we  may  yet  escape  and  get  us  hence ; 
Nor  let  the  Trojans  thus  destroy  the  Greeks." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VIII. 

Jupiter  heard  the  prayer  of  the  king,  and  in  pity 
for  his  distress  sent  a  favorable  omen.  This  was  an 
eagle  bearing  in  its  talons  a  fawn,  which  it  dropped 
down  by  the  side  of  the  altar  where  the  Greek  chiefs 
were  just  then  offering  sacrifice.  Believing  that  the 
bird  had  come  from  Jove,  the  Greeks  took  courage, 
and  rushing  out  through  their  gates,  with  Diomede 
and  Agamemnon  and  Menelaus  and  Ajax  at  their 
head,  they  furiously  attacked  the  Trojans  and  slew 
many  of  them.  Teucer,  the  brother  of  Ajax  Tela- 


1 56 

mon,  did  great  destruction  with  his  bow  and  arrows, 
in  the  use  of  which  he  was  as  skillful  even  as  Pan- 
darus.  After  killing  several  of  the  enemy,  he  aimed 
twice  at  Hector,  missing  him,  however,  each  time, 
but  at  the  second  shot  he  slew  the  Trojan  leader's 
charioteer.  Hector  then  jumped  to  the  ground,  and, 
seizing  a  great  stone,  hurled  it  with  mighty  force, 
striking  the  unfortunate  Teucer  on  the  neck,  and 
felling  him  to  the  earth.  And  now  the  Trojans, 
rushing  once  more  upon  the  Greeks,  again  drove 
them  back  to  their  camp. 

They  drave 

The  Achaians  backward  to  the  yawning  trench. 
Then  Hector  came,  with  fury  in  his  eyes, 
Among  the  foremost  warriors.     As  a  hound, 
Sure  of  his  own  swift  feet,  attacks  behind 
The  lion  or  wild  boar,  and  tears  his  flank, 
Yet  warily  observes  him  as  he  turns, 
So  Hector  followed  close  the  long-haired  Greeks, 
And  ever  slew  the  hindmost  as  they  fled. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VIII. 

•  But  night  now  put  an  end  to  the  battle.  This 
was  a  most  welcome  relief  to  the  Greek  leaders, 
thoroughly  disheartened  as  they  were  at  the  sight 
of  the  enemy  almost  at  their  ships.  On  the  other 
hand  the  warriors  of  Troy  "  most  unwillingly  beheld 
the  sunset,"  for  it  prevented  them  from  following  up 
their  victory.  But  Hector  was  confident  that  on 


157 

«, 

the  next  day  he  would  be  able  to  destroy  the 
Achaian  host  and  fleet,  and  so  end  the  war.  He 
therefore  addressed  his  troops,  commanding  them  to 
remain  on  the  field  for  the  night,  that  they  might 
be  ready  to  fall  upon  the  Greeks,  should  they 
attempt  to  go  aboard  their  vessels,  and  "escape 
across  the  mighty  deep." 

So,  high  in  hope,  they  sat  the  whole  night  through 
In  warlike  lines,  and  many  watch  fires  blazed. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  VIII. 

Meanwhile  the  Grecian  leaders  held  a  council  of 
war,  and  Agamemnon  advised  that  they  should  take 
to  their  ships,  and  set  sail  for  Greece,  as  it  now 
seemed  to  be  the  will  of  Jupiter  that  they  should 
never  capture  Troy.  Upon  hearing  this  the  chiefs 
sat  for  a  time  in  gloomy  silence.  At  length 
Diomede  spoke  out,  censuring  the  king  for  his 
cowardly  counsel. 

"  The  gods,"  said  he,  "  have  given  you,  O  son  of 
Atreus,  high  rank  and  great  power,  but  not  much  of 
courage.  Return  home  if  you  are  so  inclined,  but 
the  other  Greeks  will  remain  until  they  have  over- 
thrown Troy,  for  it  was  by  the  direction  of  the  im- 
mortals that  we  came  here." 

These  words  were  loudly  applauded  by  the  as- 
sembled leaders.  Then  guards  were  placed  to 


i58 

watch  the  wall  and  trench,  after  which  Agamemnon 
gave  the  chiefs  a  banquet  in  his  tent.  When  all 
had  partaken  of  the  good  things  set  before  them, 
the  wise  Nestor  advised  that  an  effort  be  made  to 
appease  the  anger  of  Achilles.  This  proposal  even 
Agamemnon  warmly  approved*  for  he  now  admitted 
that  he  had  done  a  great  wrong  in  taking  away 
Briseis,  and  he  declared  that  he  would  restore  the 
maiden  at  once  to  Achilles,  and  send  him  rich  gifts 

besides. 

"  I  erred,  and  I  deny  it  not. 
That  man  indeed  is  equal  to  a  host, 
Whom  Jupiter  doth  love  and  honor  thus, 
Humbling  the  Achaian  people  for  his  sake. 
And  now,  since,  yielding  to  my  wayward  mood 
I  erred,  let  me  appease  him,  if  I  may, 
With  gifts  of  priceless  worth." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  IX. 

Agamemnon  then  promised  that  he  would  send 
to  Achilles  a  large  sum  in  gold,  with  twenty  shining 
caldrons,  and  twelve  steeds  which  had  won  many 
prizes  by  their  fleetness.  Moreover,  when  they 
should  return  to  Greece  after  having  conquered  the 
Trojans,  he  would  give  him  one  of  his  daughters  to 
be  his  wife,  and  with  her,  as  a  marriage  portion, 
seven  rich  cities  of  Argos. 

The  Greek  chiefs  were  very  glad  to  hear  these 
proposals,  and  they  resolved  to  appoint  ambassadors 


'59 

to  send  to  Achilles  to  beg  him  to  accept  these  gifts 
and  make  peace  with  Agamemnon.  On  the  advice 
of  Nestor  they  chose  for  this  important  mission  the 
prudent  Ulysses,  an  aged  chief  named  Phce'nix,  and 
the  valiant  warrior  Ajax.  Phoenix  had  been  the 
instructor  of  Achilles  in  his  youth,  and  had  been 
sent  by  King  Peleus  with  the  expedition  to  Troy  to 
be  his  son's  friend  and  counselor.  The  three 
ambassadors,  with  two  heralds,  accordingly  set  out  for 
the  camp  of  the  Myrmidonian  chief.  They  found 
him  sitting  in  his  tent  with  his  friend  Patroclus. 

Amused  at  ease,  the  godlike  man  they  found, 

Pleased  with  the  solemn  harp's  harmonious  sound. 

(The  well  wrought  harp  from  conquered  Thebae  came; 

Of  polish'd  silver  was  its  costly  frame). 

With  this  he  soothes  his  angry  soul,  and  sings 

The  immortal  deeds  of  heroes  and  of  kings. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  IX. 

The  ambassadors  were  received  with  great  re- 
spect. Achilles  rose  from  his  seat  and  welcomed 
them  as  warriors  and  friends.  Then  food  and 
drink  were  placed  before  them,  and  after  they  had 
refreshed  themselves,  Ulysses  stated  the  object  of 
their  visit.  He  described  the  danger  of  the  Grecian 
army,  threatened  with  destruction  by  the  terrible 
Hector  and  his  victorious  hosts.  He  next  told  of 
the  many  gifts  which  Agamemnon  had  offered,  and 


i6o 

then  in  earnest  words  he  begged  Achilles  to  lay 
aside  his  anger,  and  come  to  the  relief  of  his  coun- 
trymen in  their  great  peril. 

But  the  wrath  of  the  son  of  Peleus  was  not  thus 
to  be  appeased.  He  replied  to  Ulysses  in  a  long 
speech,  recounting  his  services  during  the  war,  and 
bitterly  complaining  of  the  ingratitude  and  selfish- 
ness of  Agamemnon. 

"  Twelve  cities  have  I  with  my  fleet  laid  waste, 
And  with  my  Myrmidons  have  I  o'erthrown 
Eleven  upon  this  fertije  Trojan  coast. 
Full  many  a  precious  spoil  from  these  I  bore, 
And  to  Atrides  Agamemnon  gave. 
He,  loitering  in  his  fleet,  received  them  all; 
Few  he  distributed,  and  many  kept." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  IX. 

As  for  the  apologies  which  Agamemnon  now 
made,  the  wrathful  hero  declared  that  he  could 
have  no  confidence  in  a  man  who  had  deceived 
him,  nor  would  he  accept  the  offered  gifts. 

'*  Let  him  ne'er  again, 

Though  shameless,  dare  to  look  me  in  the  face. 
I  will  not  join  in  council  nor  in  act 
With  him:  he  has  deceived  and  wronged  me  once, 
And  now  he  cannot  wheedle  me  with  words. 
Let  once  suffice.     I  leave  him  to  himself, 
To  perish.     All-providing  Jupiter 


Hath  made  him  mad.     I  hate  his  gifts;  I  hold 
In  utter  scorn  me  giver." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  IX. 

In  vain  also  were  the  entreaties  of  Pncenix  and 
Ajax*  They  too  tried  to  persuade  the  hero  to  dis- 
miss from  his  mind  the  thought  of  his  wrongs,  and 
lead  his  brave  Myrmidons  once  more  into  the  field 
for  the  honor  of  his  country.  But  Achilles  persisted 
in  his  refusal  to  take  further  part  in  the  war,  and  so 
there  was  nothing  left  for  the  ambassadors  but  to  re- 
turn to  the  tent  of  Agamemnon  and  report  the  fail- 
ure of  their  mission. 

In  deep  disappointment  and  distress  the  chiefs 
heard  the  story.  Then  again  they  held  counsel  to- 
gether to  consider  what  was  best  to  do,  —  whether 
to  prepare  for  another  battle,  or  to  betake  them- 
selves at  once  to  their  ships  and  set  sail  for  Greece. 
Nestor  proposed  that  some  brave  and  prudent  chief 
should  venture  into  the  Trojan  camp,  and,  if  possible, 
find  out  what  were  the  plans  of  Hector. 

"  Is  there  (said  he)  a  chief  so  greatly  brave, 
His  life  to  hazard,  and  his  country  save? 
Lives  there  a  man,  who  singly  dares  to  go 
To  yonder  camp,  or  seize  some  straggling  foe? 
Or  favor'd  by  the  night  approach  so  near, 
Their  speech,  their  counsels,  and  designs  to  hear?" 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  X. 

Diomede  offered  himself  for  this  service,  and  being 


STO.   OF  TROY —  II 


162 

permitted  to  select  a  companion,  he  made  choice  of 
Ulysses.  The  two  warriors  at  once  put  on  their  ar- 
mor, and  took  up  their  weapons.  Then  they  went 
out  into  the  plain,  each  praying  to  Minerva  to  grant 
them  success.  Cautiously  they  moved  forward  to- 
wards the  camp  of  the  enemy. 

With  dreadful  thoughts  they  trace  the  dreary  way, 
Through  the  black  horrors  of  the  ensanguined  plain, 
Through  dust,  through  blood,  o'er  arms,  and  hills  of  slain. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  X. 

Now  it  happened  that  about  the  same  time  Hec- 
tor had  sent  a  young  Trojan  chief,  Do'lon  by  name, 
on  a  similar  errand,  —  to  make  his  way  into  the  Gre- 
cian camp,  and  find  out  the  designs  of  the  Argive 
leaders.  Dolon  offered  to  undertake  the  dangerous 
task  on  condition  that  he  should  have  as  his  reward 
the  chariot  and  horses  of  Achilles,  when  the  Greeks 
should  be  conquered.  Hector  agreed  to  the  condi- 
tion, and  the  Trojan  spy,  arming  himself,  set  forth 
for  the  Greek  camp.  He  had  not  gone  far  when 
Ulysses  and  Diomede  saw  him  advancing,  where- 
upon they  lay  down  among  the  dead  bodies  and  al- 
lowed him  to  go  forward  a  considerable  distance. 
Then  they  rose  up  and  followed  him. 

At  first  Dolon  supposed  that  they  were  Trojans 
sent  by  Hector  to  call  him  back,  but,  soon  seeing 
that  they  were  enemies,  ne  fled  with  great  speed  in 


103 

the  direction  of  the  ships.  The  two  Greeks  hastened 
in  pursuit,  and  Diomede  hurled  a  spear  after  the  fu- 
gitive. He  purposely  missed  him,  however,  for  their 
object  was  to  take  the  Trojan  alive,  that  they  might 
get  from  him  the  information  they  desired.  The 
weapon  passed  over  the  shoulder  of  Dolon,  and  sank 
into  the  ground  in  front  of  him.  Instantly  he  stood 
still,  trembling  with  fear,  and  the  Greek  warriors, 
hurrying  up,  seized  him  by  the  hands.  The  fright- 
ened Trojan  flung  himself  on  his  knees,  and  begged 
them  to  spare  his  life,  promising  that  his  father,  who 
was  rich,  would  pay  a  high  ransom.  Ulysses  com- 
manded him  to  tell  what  his  errand  was  to  the  Gre- 
cian camp,  and  also  to  tell  them  all  about  the  Trojan 
army,  and  of  the  plans  of  Hector. 

"  Tell  me,  — and  tell  the  truth,  — where  hast  thou  left 
Hector,  the  leader  of  the  host,  and  where 
Are  laid  his  warlike  arms;  where  stand  his  steeds; 
Where  are  the  sentinels,  and  where  the  tents 
Of  other  chiefs?     On  what  do  they  consult? 
Will  they  remain  beside  our  galleys  here, 
Or  do  they  meditate,  since,  as  they  say, 
The  Greeks  are  beaten,  a  return  to  Troy? " 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  X. 

The  terrified  Dolon,  hoping  to  move  the  Greeks 
to  mercy,  told  even  more  than  he  was  asked  to  tell. 
There  was  a  Thracian  king,  he  said,  who  had  that 


164 

very  day  arrived  with  a  troop  of  soldiers  to  help  the 
Trojans.  Kne^us^was  his  name.  He  had  steeds 
beautiful  to  behold,  and  fleet  as  the  wind,  his  char- 
iot shone  with  gold  and  silver,  and  the  armor  he 
wore  was  all  of  gold. 

"  Even  now,"  said  Dolon,  "  Rhesus  and  his  follow- 
ers are  in  a  camp  by  themselves  separated  from  the 
others,  and  it  will  be  easy  to  take  them  by  surprise 
as  they  lie  asleep,  and  carry  off  the  rich  things  they 
possess." 

This  news  was  joyfully  received  by  the  Greek 
heroes.  They  had  heard  of  an  oracle  which  declared 
that  Troy  could  never  be  captured  if  these  same 
horses  of  Rhesus  should  once  drink  of  the  water  of 
X  an  thus  or  feed  on  the  grass  of  the  Trojan  plain. 
They  therefore  resolved  to  rob  Rhesus  of  his  mag- 
nificent steeds.  But  first  they  killed  the  unhappy 
Dolon,  paying  no  heed  to  his  prayers  for  mercy. 
Then  they  hurried  on  to  the  Thracian  camp,  where 
they  found  the  warriors  sunk  in  deep  repose,  after 
the  fatigues  of  the  day's  journey. 

There  slept  the  warriors,  overpowered  with  toil; 
Their  glittering  arms  were  near  them,  fairly  ranged 
In  triple  rows,  and  by  each  suit  of  arms 
Two  coursers.     Rhesus  slumbered  in  the  midst. 
Near  him  were  his  fleet  horses,  which  were  made 
Fast  to  the  chariot's  border  by  the  reins. 

BRYANT,  Iliad^  Book  X. 


i65 

Diomede  slew  Rhesus  and  twelve  of  his  compan- 
ions, while  Ulysses  untied  the  king's  steeds,  and  led 
them  forth  into  the  field.  Then,  hastening  across 
the  plain  with  their  rich  prize,  they  soon  reached  the 
Grecian  camp,  where  Nestor  and  the  other  chiefs 
joyfully  welcomed  them. 

Their  friends,  rejoicing,  flocked 
.  Around  them,  greeting  them  with  grasp  of  hands 
And  with  glad  words. 

BRYANT,  7//W,  Book  X. 


X.  THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  SHIPS  —  DEATH 
OF  PATROCLUS. 


AT  dawn  the  Achaian  leaders  resolved  to  try  again 
the  fortunes  of  war.  They  were  encouraged  by  the 
exploit  of  Ulysses  and  Diomede,  and  Jupiter  sent 
down  Eris,  the  goddess  of  strife,  to  incite  them  to 
ardor  for  battle.  The  goddess  stood  on  the  ship  of 
Ulysses,  which  was  in  the  center  of  the  fleet,  and 
shouted  so  loud  that  she  was  heard  all  over  the 
Greek  camp. 

Loud  was  the  voice,  and  terrible,  in  which 
She  shouted  from  her  station  to  the  Greeks, 
And  into  every  heart  it  carried  strength, 
And  the  resolve  to  combat  manfully, 
And  never  yield.     The  battle  now  to  them 
Seemed  more  to  be  desired  than  the  return 
To  their  dear  country  in  their  roomy  ships. 

~BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XI. 

Then  began  the  greatest  battle  of  the  siege.  So 
numerous  were  the  exploits  of  heroes  in  this  mighty 
conflict  that  the  account  of  it  occupies  nearly  eight 
books  of  the  Iliad. 

Agamemnon  led  the  Grecian  warriors  during  the, 

~~ 


i67 

earlier  part  of  the  day.  He  was  arrayed  in  brilliant 
armor,  his  breastplate^  being  of  gold  and  bronze 
and  tin. 

Ten  were  its  bars  of  tawny  bronze,  and  twelve 

Were  gold,  and  twenty  tin;  and  on  each  side 

Were  three  bronze  serpents  stretching  toward  the  neck. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XI. 

His  sword,  glittering  with  golden  studs,  hung  from 
his  shoulder  in  a  silver  sheath,  and  in  his  hands  he 
bore  two  great  spears,  brass-tipped  and  sharp.  As 
he  went  forth  to  meet  the  foe,  Juno  and  Minerva 
made  a  sound  as  of  thunder  in  the  sky,  "  honoring 
the  king  of  Mycenae,  rich  in  gold."  Thus  did  the 
Argive  chief  enter  the  field  at  the  head  of  his  war- 
riors. 

The  Trojans  were  already  on  the  ground,  their 
great  leader,  Hector,  clad  in  shining  brazen  armor. 
giving  his  commands,  now  in  the  front  and  now  in 
the  rear.  Like  wolves  rushing  to  combat  the  two 
hosts  sprang  against  each  other,  and  soon  the  battle 
raged  furiously,  the  heroes  on  both  sides  fighting 
with  equal  valor. 

They  of  Troy 

And  they  of  Argos  smote  each  other  down, 
And  neither  thought  of  ignominious  flight. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XI. 

But  about  midday  the  Greeks  prevailed  against 


Pointing  by  Watts. 


IRIS. 


(168) 


169 

the  Trojans,  and  drove  them  back  to  the  city  gates. 
Agamemnon  slew  with  his  sword  two  of  King 
Priam's  sons,  I'sus  and  An'ti-phus,  and  with  his 
spear  he  struck  down  many  of  the  Trojan  heroes. 
Hector  had  not  yet  taken  part  in  the  battle,  Jupiter 
having  sent  him  an  order  by  the  messenger  Iris  not 
to__begin  fighting  until  Agamemnon  should  retire 
wounded  from  the  field^  This  soon  happened.  The 
king  was  wounded  in  the  arm  by  the  Trojan  chief 

^Jm    4VA^t^ 

Co  on,  whose  brother,  I-phid'a-mas,  Agamemnon 
had  slain.  These  two  chiefs  were  sons  of  the  vener- 
able Antenor.  But  Agamemnon,  before  withdraw- 
ing,rushed  upon  Coon  and  slew  him  also.  Then, 
leaping  into  his  chariot,  he  ordered  his  charioteer  to 
drive  him  quickly  to  his  ships,  for  he  was  suffering 
much  from  the  pain  of  his  wound. 

Hector,  seeing  the  flight  of  the  Greek  leader, 
called  loudly  to  the  Trojans  to  advance  upon  their 
foes,  at  the  same  time  setting  them  the  example. 

Himself,  inspired 

With  fiery  valor,  rushed  among  the  foes 
In  the  mid-battle  foremost,  like  a  storm 
That  swoops  from  heaven,  and  on  the  dark-blue  sea 
Falls  suddenly,  and  stirs  it  to  its  depths. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XI. 

The  fortune  of  battle  now  turned  in  favor  ot 
the  men  of  Troy.  Nine  warrior  princes  of  the 


i  ;o 

Greeks  were  struck  down,  one  after  another,  by  the 
sword  of  Hector.  The  brave  JDiomede,  wounded 
by  an  arrow  from  the  bow  of  Paris,  was  obliged  to 
retire  to  his  tent.  A  spear  hurled  by  the  Trojan 
chief,  So'cus,  pierced  the  corselet  of  Ulysses,  and 
wounded  him  in  the  side.  But  the  Trojan  did  not 
long  survive  this  exploit,  for  as  he  turned  to  flee, 
Ulysses  sent  a  javelin  through  his  body,  felling  him 
lifeless  to  the  earth.  A  serious  misfortune  had  al- 
most happened  to  the  Greeks  at  the  hand  of  Paris, 
who  shot  a  triple  barbed  arrow  at  the  hero  and  phy- 
sician, Machaon,  wounding  him  in  the  shoulder.  The 
life  of  the  great  son  of  ^sculapius  being  worth  many 
men,  Idomeneus  cried  to  Nestor  to  come  and  take 
him  away  in  his  chariot. 

"Haste,  mount  thy  chariot;  let  Machaon  take 
A  place  beside  thee ;  urge  thy  firm-paced  steeds 
Rapidly  toward  the  fleet;  a  leech  like  him, 
Who  cuts  the  arrow  from  the  wound  and  soothes 
The  pain  with  balms,  is  worth  a  host  to  us." 

BRYANT,  Iliad^  Book  XI. 

Many  of  their  leaders  being  now  disabled,  the 
Greeks  were  driven  trom  the  field  and  forced  to^ake 
refuge  behind  their  fortifications.  At  the  trench  a 
terrible  conflict  took  place.  The  Trojan  warriors 
made  efforts  to  pass  it  in  their  chariots,  while  the 
Greeks  fought  with  desperate  fury  to  force  the  in- 


vaders   back.       Many  heroes    on   both    sides  were 
wounded  and  many  slain. 

The  towers  and  battlements  were  steeped  in  blood 
Of  heroes,  —  Greeks  and  Trojans. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XII. 

At  last  Hector  took  up  a  large  stone  and  hurled 
it  with  tremendous  force  against  one  of  the  gates.  It 
tore  off  the  strong  hinges,  and  shattered  the  massive 
beams,  so  mighty  was  the  blow.  Then  through  the 
wide  opening  the  Trojan  leader  sprang  into  the  Gre- 
cian  camp,  brandishing  two  spears  in  his  hands,  and 
calling  on  his  men  to  follow.  Promptly  they  obeyed. 
Some  rushed  in  by  the  gateway,  and  some  over  the 
wall,  while  the  terrified  Greeks  fled  in  disorder  and 
dismay  to  their  ships. 

So  far  none  of  the  gods  had  taken  part  in  the 
battle.  But  Neptune  now  resolved  to  come  to  the 
rescue  of  the  Greeks,  having  observed  that  Jupiter, 
though  still  seated  in  his  sacred  inclosure  on  Mount 
Ida,  was  no  longer  watching  the  conflict. 

On  Troy  no  more 

He  turned  those  glorious  eyes,  for  now  he  deemed 
That  none  of  all  the  gods  would  seek  to  aid 
Either  the  Greeks  or  Trojans  in  the  strife. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XIII. 

The  ocean  god,  however,  resolved  to  make  the 
attempt.  From  the  wooded  height  of  Samothrace 


he  had  been  viewing  the  fight,  and  had  seen  that 
the  Achaian  army  and  fleet  were  threatened  with 
destruction.  Quickly,  therefore,  descending  to  the 
sea,  he  plunged  down  to  his  golden  mansion  beneath 
the  waves,  and  there  put  on  his  armor  and  mounted 
his  chariot. 

He  yoked  his  swift  and  brazen-footed  steeds, 

With  manes  of  flowing  gold,  to  draw  his  car, 

And  put  on  golden  mail,  and  took  his  scourge, 

Wrought  of  fine  gold,  and  climbed  the  chariot-seat, 

And  rode  upon  the  waves.     The  whales  came  forth 

From  their  deep  haunts,  and  frolicked  round  his  way: 

They  knew  their  king.     The  waves  rejoicing  smoothed 

A  path,  and  rapidly  the  coursers  flew; 

Nor  was  the  brazen  axle  wet  below. 

And  thus  they  brought  him  to  the  Greecian  fleet. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XIII. 

Arrived  at  the  fleet,  Neptune  assumed  the  shape 
and  voice  of  the  soothsayer  Calchas,  and,  going 
amongst  the  Grecian  leaders,  urged  them  to  battle. 
With  his  scepter  he  touched  the  two  Ajaxes,  thereby 
giving  more  than  mortal  strength  to  their  limbs,  and 
filling  their  breasts  with  valor.  Thus  encouraged 
the  Greek  heroes  turned  fiercely  upon  the  Trojans, 
and  again  great  feats  of  war  were  performed  by  the 
chiefs  on  both  sides.  Hector,  Paris,  Helenus,  De- 
iph'o-bus,  and  y^neas  fought  in  front  of  the  Trojan 
lines,  while  Menelaus,  Idomeneus,  Teucer,  the  two 


173 

Ajaxes,  and  An-til'ochus,  the  son  of  Nestor,  bravely 
led  the  conflict  at  the  head  of  the  Greeks. 

All  along  the  line 
The  murderous  conflict  bristled  with  long  spears. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XIII. 


. 

Juno  rejoiced  exceedingly  at  seeing  the  monarch 

of  the  ocean  aiding  the  Greeks,  but  she  much  feared 

&tfi\\i* 
that  Jifpiter  might  notice  him,  and  order  him  off  the 

field.  This  he  would  be  sure  to  do,  if  he  should 
again  turn  his  eyes  on  the  battle.  Juno  therefore 
went  to  the  island  of  Les'bos,  where  Som'nus,  the 
god  of  sleep,  resided,  and  she  entreated  that  deity  to 
hasten  to  Mount  Ida,  and  cause  her  royal  spouse  to 
fall  into  a  deep  slumber.  Somnus  consented,  and 
having  done  as  Juno  desired,  he  hurried  down  to  the 
Grecian  fleet  with  a  message  to  Neptune. 

"  Now,  Neptune,  give  the  Greeks  thy  earnest  aid, 
And  though  it  be  but  for  a  little  space, 
While  Jupiter  yet  slumbers,  let  them  win 
The  glory  of  the  day  ;  for  I  have  wrapt 
His  senses  in  a  gentle  lethargy." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XIV. 

Hearing  these  words,  Neptune  rushed  to  the 
front  of  the  Greek  lines  and  again  urged  the  leaders 
to  stand  bravely  against  the  enemy.  Then,  grasp- 
ing in  his  hand  a  sword  "of  fearful  length  and 


174 

flashing  blade  like  lightning,"  he  led  them  on  to 
battle. 

And  now  the  warriors  of  both  sides  were  once 
more  in  deadly  conflict.  Hector  cast  a  spear 
at  Ajax,  but  the  weapon  struck  where  two  belts 
crossed  upon  the  hero's  breast,  overlapping  each 
other,  and  he  escaped  unhurt.  Then  the  son  of  Tela- 
mon  struck  at  the  Trojan  leader.  His  weapon  was  a 
heavy  stone,  one  of  many  that  lay  around,  which 
were  used  as  props  for  the  ships.  The  missile, 
hurled  with  giant  force  and  true  aim,  smote  the 
Trojan  on  the  breast  and  felled  him  like  a  tree 

struck  by  lightning. 

As  when  beneath 
The  stroke  of  Father  Jupiter  an  oak 

Falls  broken  at  the  root, 

So  dropped  the  valiant  Hector  to  the  earth 
Amid  the  dust;  his  hand  let  fall  the  spear; 
His  shield  and  helm  fell  with  him,  and  his  mail 
Of  shining  brass  clashed  round  him. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XIV. 

With  shouts  of  triumph  the  Greeks  rushed  for- 
ward, hoping  to  slay  the  fallen  warrior,  and  despoil 
him  of  his  armor.  But  his  comrades,  y^Eneas  and 
A-ge'nor  and  SaqDedon  and  many  others,  crowded 
around  him,  and  protected  him  with  their  shields. 
He  was  then  carried  to  the  bank  of  the  Xanthus  and 
bathed  in  its  waters,  which  revived  him  a  little. 


'"  O 


When  the  Greeks  saw  Hector  borne  away  asjf 
dead,  they  fought  with  increased  valor,  and  soon 
drove  the  Trojans  back  across  the  trench,  slaying 
many  of  their  chiefs. 

Meanwhile  Jupiter,  awaking  from  his  slumber, 
and  looking  down  upon  the  battlefield,  beheld  the 
men  of  Troy  put  to  flight,  and  Neptune  at  the  head 
of  the  pursuing  Greeks.  Turning  angrily  upon 
Juno,  who  was  at  his  side,  he  rebuked  her  in  severe 
words,  for  he  now  saw  the  trick  that  had  been 
played  upon  him.  He  reminded  her  of  how  he  had 
punished  her  on  a  former  occasion  for  her  ill 
treatment  of  his  son  Hercules. 

"  Dost  thou  forget 

When  thou  didst  swing  suspended,  and  I  tied 
Two  anvils  to  thy  feet,  and  bound  a  chain 
Of  gold  that  none  could  break  around  thy  wrists? 
Then  didst  thou  hang  in  air  amid  the  clouds, 
And  all  the  gods  of  high  Olympus  saw 
With  pity.     They  stood  near,  but  none  of  them 
Were  able  to  release  thee." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XV. 

Juno  pleaded  that  it  was  not  at  her  request  that 
Neptune  had  gone  to  the  aid  of  the  Greeks.  He  had 
done  that  without  consulting  her.  She  indeed,  she 
said,  would  rather  advise  Neptune  to  obey  the  com- 
mand of  the  king  of  heaven  and  submit  to  his  will. 

The  anger  of  the  father  of  the  gods  was  appeased 


by  Juno's  mild  words.  Then  he  bade  her  hasten  to 
Olympus^  and  send  the  messenger  Iris  down  to 
order  Neptune'roieave  the  battle.  He  bade  her 
also  to  direct  Apollo  to  restore  Hector's  strength 
and  prepare  him  for  the  fight.^  But  he  explained  to 
Juno  why  he  wished  that  for  the  present  the 
Trojans  should  be  victorious.  It  was  because  he 
had  promised  Thetis  that  the  Greeks  should  be 
punished  for  the  wrong  Agamemnon  had  done  to 
her  son.  Yet  the  time  would  come,  he  said,  when 
the  great  Hector  would  be  slain  by  the  hand  of 
Achilles,  and  when  by  Minerva's  aid  the  lofty 
towers  of  Troy  would  be  overthrown.  Juno  was 
therefore  glad  to  obey  the  command  of  her  royal 

spouse. 

As  the  thought  of  man 

Flies  rapidly,  when,  having  traveled  far, 
He  thinks,  "  Here  would  I  be,  I  would  be  there," 
And  flits  from  place  to  place,  so  swiftly  flew 
Imperial  Juno  to  the  Olympian  mount. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XV. 

There  she  informed  Iris  and  Apollo  of  the  will  of 
Father  Jove.  Forthwith  the  two  gods  hastened  to 
Mount  Ida  to  receive  their  orders  from  Jupiter  him- 
self. The  orders  were  quickly  given.  Then  with 
the  speed  of  the  winds  the  messenger  of  heaven 
and  the  god  of  the  silver  bow  darted  down  from 
Ida's  top  to  the  plain  of  Troy. 


177 

Neptune,  on  hearing  of  the  command  of  Jupiter, 
was  at  first  unwilling  to  obey.  Jupiter,  he  said,  had 
no  authority  over  him. 

"  We  are  three  brothers, 
The  sons  of  Saturn, —  Jupiter  and  I, 
And  Pluto,  regent  of  the  realm  below. 
Three  parts  were  made  of  all  existing  things, 
And  each  of  us  received  his  heritage. 
The  lots  were  shaken;  and  to  me  it  fell 
To  dwell  forever  in  the  hoary  deep, 
And  Pluto  took  the  gloomy  realm  of  night, 
And  lastly,  Jupiter  the  ample  heaven 
And  air  and  clouds.     Yet  doth  the  earth  remain, 
With  high  Olympus,  common  to  us  all. 
Therefore  I  yield  me  not  to  do  his  will, 
Great  as  he  is;  and  let  him  be  content 
With  his  third  part." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XV. 

But  Iris  advised  Neptune  to  obey,  reminding  him 
that  Jupiter  had  power  of  punishing  those  who 
offended  him.  At  last  Neptune  yielded,  and,  quit- 
ting  the  Grecian  army,  took  his  way  to  the  sea,  and 
plunged  beneath  the  waves  to  his  palace  in  the 
ocean  depths^ 

Meanwhile  Apollo  hastened  to  the  side  of  the 
Trojan  prince,  who  was  still  weak  from  the  blow  of 
Ajax.  Quickly  the  god  restored  the  hero's  strength 
and  breathed  fresh  courage  into  his  breast^  Then 

STO.  OF  TROY — 12 


I78 

he  commanded  Hector  to  hasten  forward  and  lead 
his  warriors  against  the  enemy.  In  an  instant  the 
Trojan  prince  was  on  his  feet,  hurrying  to  the  front. 
When  the  Greek  chiefs  saw  him  they  were  aston- 
ished as  well  as  terrified,  for  they  had  thought  him 
dead,  and  now  they  believed  he  had  been  rescued 
from  death  by  some  god.  They  resolved,  however, 
to  fight  bravely,  and  so  they  stood  firmly  together. 
Hector  meanwhile  advanced,  Apollo  moving  before 
him  with  the  shield  of  Jupiter,  the  te"rfible  aegis, 
which  Jupiter  had  given  him  to  shake  before  the 
Greeks  and  fill  their  hearts  with  fear. 

"  Hector  led 

The  van  in  rapid  march.     Before  him  walked 
Phoebus,  the  terrible  aegis  in  his  hands, 
Dazzlingly  bright  within  its  shaggy  fringe, 
By  Vulcan  forged,  the  great  artificer, 
And  given  to  Jupiter,  with  which  to  rout 
Armies  of  men.     With  this  in  hand  he  led 
The  assailants  on." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XV. 

Against  an  attack  so  led  the  bravery  of.  the 
Greeks  was  of  little  avail.  Numbers  of  their  war- 
riors were  slain,  and  the  rest  fled  back  to  their 
camp,  pursued  by  Hector  and  his  triumphant  hosts. 
This  time  the  Trojans  were  not  hindered  by  the 
trench  or  the  wall,  for  ^jjollo,  with  his  mighty  feet 


179 

trampled  down  the  earth  banks,  and  overthrew  the 
crreat  wall  as  easily  as  a  child  at  play  on  the  beach 
overthrows  a  tiny  mound  of  sand. 

Then  a  fierce  struggle  took  place,  the  Greeks 
fighting  with  desperate  fury  to  defend  their  ships, 
which  the  Trojans,  with  lighted  torches  in  their 
hands,  tried  to  set  on  fire.  At  one  of  the  galleys 
there  was  a  terrific  conflict.  Hector,  having  grasped 
the  vessel  by  the  stern,  called  to  his  men  to  bring 
on  their  flaming  brands,  while  the  mighty  Ajax 
stood  on  the  rowers'  bench,  ready  with  his  long 
spear  to  strike  the  assailants  back. 

On  the  blade  of  that  long  spear 
The  hero  took  them  as  they  came,  and  slew 
In  close  encounter  twelve  before  the  fleet. 

BRYANT,  Iliad.  Book  XV. 

But  at  last  the  brave  son  of  Telamon  was  forced 
to  give  way,  Hector  having  cut  his  spear  shaft  in 
two  by  a  stroke  of  his  huge  sword.  Then  the 
Trojans  hurled  forward  their  blazing  torches,  and 
the  ship  was  soon  wrapped  in  flames.  The  Greeks 
were  now  in  the  greatest  peril.  No  hope  seemed 
left  to  them  to  save  their  fleet  from  destruction. 
But  help  came  from  an  unexpected  quarter.  Patro- 
clus,  the  friend  and  companion  of  Achilles,  had 
been  watching  the  terrible  conflict  at  the  ships.  As 


i8o 

soon  as  he  saw  the  vessel  on  fire  he  hurried  to  the 
tent  of  the  Myrmidonian  chief,  and  with  tears  in 
his  eyes  implored  him  fo  have  pity  on  his  perishing 
countryjmen. 

';  The  Greeks,"  said  he,  "  are  sorely  pressed. 
Their  bravest  leaders  are  wounded,  while  you  sit 
here,  giving  way  to  your  wrath.  If  you  will  not 
yourself  go  to  their  rescue,  at  least  permit  me  to 
lead  the  Myrmidons  to  battle,  and  let  me  wear  your 
armor.  The  Trojans  at  the  sight  of  it  may  think  I 
am  Achilles,  and  be  so  terrified  that  our  people 
may  have  a  little  breathing  time." 

To  this  proposal  Achilles  assented3  but  he  warned 
Patroclus  not  to  pursue  the  Trojans  too  far,  lest  he 
might  meet  his  death  at  the  hands  of  one  of  the 
gods.  "  Rescue  our  good  ships,"  said  he,  "  but 
when  you  have  driven  the  enemy  from  the  fleet, 
return  hither." 

With  joy  and  eager  haste  Patroclus  put  on  the 
armor  of  Achilles.  Then  the  great  chief  himself 
marshaled  his  Myrmidons  in  battle  array,  after 
which  he  addressed  them,  bidding  them  fight  val- 
iantly. The  occasion,  he  said,  had  now  come  which 
they  had  so  long  desired,  for  they  had  often  blamed 
him  because  he  had  kept  them  from  joining  their 
countrymen  in  the  field.  Fierce  and  fearless  these 
Myrmidons  werer  and  oyer  two  thousand  strong. 


Achilles,  dear  to  Jupiter,  had  led 
Fifty  swift  barks  to  Ilium,  and  in  each 
Were  fifty  men,  companions  at  the  oar. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVI. 

Patroclus  now  mounted  the  chariot  of  Achilles, 
with  the  brave  Au-tom'e-don  as  charioteer,  a  hero 
next  in  valor  to  the  renowned  son  of  Peleus  himself. 
There  were  three  horses  in  the  team,  Xanthus  and 
Bali-us,  both  of  immortal  breed,  and  fleet  as  the 
wind,  and  Ped'a-sus,  which,  though  of  mortal  stock, 
was  a  match  for  the  others  in  speed. 

Like  in  strength,  in  swiftness  and  in  grace, 
A  mortal  courser  match'd  the  immortal  race. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XVI. 

Great  was  the  terror  of  the  Trojans  when  they 
beheld  the  Myrmidons  march  forth  to  battle. 

Every  heart  grew  faint 

With  fear;  the  close  ranks  wavered;  for  they  thought 
That  the  swift  son  of  Peleus  at  the  fleet 
Had  laid  aside  his  wrath,  and  was  again 
The  friend  of  Agamemnon.     Eagerly 
They  looked  around  for  an  escape  from  death. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVI. 

The  Greek  fleet  was  soon  out  of  danger,  for  _Pa- 
troclus  and  his  Myrmidons,  having  furiously  .at- 
tacked the  Trojans,  quickly  drove  them  away  from 
the  burning  vessel  and  put  out  the  fire.  Having 


ng  l>y  Ri'gnault. 

AUTOMEDON   AND   THE    HORSES   OF   ACHILLES. 
(182) 


thus  saved  the  ships,  the  Myrmidonian  warriors, 
aided  by  the  other  Greeks,  then  drove  the  Trojans 
with  great  slaughter  from  the  camp  into  the  plain, 
and  on  towards  the  walls  of  the  city. 

In  that  scattered  conflict  of  the  chiefs 
Each  Argive  slew  a  warrior. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVI. 

Even  the  mighty  Hector  was  not  able  to  stop  the 
flight  of  the  panic-stricken  Trojans,  who  seemed  for 
the  moment  to  have  lost  all  their  courage,  so  great 
was  their  fear  at  the  name  of  Achilles.  The  hero 
Sarpedon  at  the  head  of  his  brave  Lycians  at- 
tempted to  turn  back  the  onset  of  the  Myrmidons, 
and  he  sought  out  their  leader  to  engage  him  ir^ 
single  combat.  Both  warriors  sprang  from  their 
chariots  at  the  same  moment,  and  rushed  at  each 
other,  hurling  their  spears.  Twice  Sarpedon  missed 
his  foe,  but  one  of  the  weapons  killed  Pedasus,  the 
horse  of  "  mortal  stock."  The  leader  of  the  Myrmi- 
dons cast  his  javelin  with  truer  aim,  for  it  pierced 
the  Lycian  chief  right  in  the  breast,  and  the  hero 
fell  like  a  tall  pine  tree  falling  in  the  forest  at  the 
last  blow  of  the  woodman's  ax. 

Then  a  fierce  conflict  took  place  over  the  body, 
the  Greeks  seeking  to  obtain  possession  of  the 
warriors  armor,  which  they  did  after  many  on  both 
sides  had  been  slain  in  the  struggle.  The  body 


1 84 

itself  was  sent  by  Apollo,  at  Jupiter's  command,  to 
Lycia,  that  the  hero's  kinsmen  there  might  perform 
funeral  rites  in  his  honor. 

In  robes  of  heaven 

He  clothed  him,  giving  him  to  Sleep  and  Death, 
Twin  brothers,  and  swift  bearers  of  the  dead, 
And  they,  with  speed  conveying  it,  laid  down 
The  corpse  in  Lycia's  broad  and  opulent  realm. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVI. 

Jupiter  thus  honored  Sarpedon  because  the  hero 
was  his  own  son.  He  would  have  saved  him  from 
the  spear  of  Patroclus,  but  the  Fates  had  decreed 
that  Sarpedon  should  die  in  the  battle,  and  the 
decrees  of  the  Fates  were  not  to  be  set  aside  even 
by  Jove  himself. 

Patroclus,  too,  was  doomed  to  fall  in  the  conflict 
of  the  day,  and  the  moment  was  now  at  hand. 
Forgetting  the  warning  Achilles  had  given  him,  he 
pursued  the  Trojans  up  to  the  very  gates  of  the 
city.  Then  he  attempted  to  scale  the  wall,  but  he 
was  driven  back  by  Apollo,  who  spoke  to  him  in 
threatening  voice,  saying  that  not  by  him  should 
Troy  be  taken,  nor  by  his  chief,  though  mightier 
far  than  he.  Hastily  Patroclus  withdrew  from  the 
walls,  fearing  the  wrath  of  the  archer  god,  but  he 
continued  to  deal  death  among  the  Trojans  as  they 
came  within  reach  of  his  weapons. 


i85 

At  last  Hector,  urged  by  Apollo,  rushed  forward 
in  his  chariot  to  encounter  Patroclus.  The  Myrmi- 
don leader  lifted  a  large  stone,  and  flung  it  with  all 
his  force  at  the  Trojan  chief  as  he  approached.  It 
missed  Hector,  but  killed  Ce-bri'o-nes,  his  charioteer, 
and  while  they  fought  over  the  body,  each  helped 
by  brave  comrades,  many  more  on  both  sides  were 
laid  in  the  dust.  Again  the  archer  god  interfered, 
this  time  coming  unseen  behind  Patroclus,  and 
striking  him  with  his  open  palm  between  the 
shoulders.  The  hero  staggered  under  the  blow,  his 
huge  spear  was  shattered  in  his  hands,  and  his 
shield  dropped  to  the  ground.  Then  Eu-phor'bus, 
a  Dardanian  chief,  hurried  forward,  and  with_his 
lance  wounded  him  the  back.  Thus  disarmed  and 
almost  overpowered,  Patroclus  turned  to  seek  refuge 
in  the  ranks  of  his  friends.  As  he  was  retreating, 
Hector  rushed  upon  him,  and  thrusting  a  sj>ear 
deep  into  his  body,  gave  the  brave  warrior  hisoieath 

wound^ 

The  hero  fell 

With  clashing  mail,  and  all  the  Greeks  beheld 
His  fall  with  grief. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVI. 

Then  there  was  a  long  and  terrific  fight  around 
the  corpse  of  the  fallen  champion.  The  description 
of  it  occupies  a  whole  book  of  the  Iliad.  The  armor 
Patroclus  wore  was,  as  we  have  seen,  the  rich  armor 


1 86 

of  Achilles,  and  the  Trojans  were  eager  to  get  pos- 
session of  it.  They  wished  also  to  get  possession 
of  the  hero's  body,  that  his  friends  might  not  have 
the  satisfaction  of  performing  the  usual  funeral  rites 
in  his  honor.  Menelaus  was  the  first  to  stand  guard 
over  the  body,  and  Euphorbus  was  the  first  to  fall 
in  the  fight.  Hector  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the 
charioteer,  Automedon,  thinking  to  slay  him,  and 
capture  the  immortal  horses  of  Achilles.  But 
Apollo  warned  him  against  the  attempt. 

11  Hector,  thou  art  pursuing  what  thy  feet 
Will  never  overtake,  the  steeds  which  draw 
The  chariot  of  Achilles.     Hard  it  were 
For  mortal  man  to  tame  them  or  to  guide, 
Save  for  Achilles,  goddess-born.     Meanwhile 
Hath  warlike  Menelaus,  Atreus'  son, 
Guarding  the  slain  Patroclus,  overthrown 
Euphorbus,  bravest  of  the  Trojan  host." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVII. 

Hearing  these  words  Hector  hastened  back  to 
where  the  corpse  of  the  Greek  hero  was  lying. 
When  Menelaus  saw  him  approaching,  he  withdrew, 
and  hurried  off  to  seek  help,  for  he  feared  to  en- 
counter the  terrible  Trojan  leader.  Then  Hector 
stripped  Patroclus  of  the  splendid  armor  of 
Achilles,  and  he  was  about  dragging  away  the 
body,  but  just  at  that  moment  Ajax  rushed  up. 
Hector  now  retreated,  leaping  into  his  chariot  and 


187 

giving   the   glittering   armor  to   his  friends   to   be 
carried  away  to  Troy. 

For  thus  fleeing  from  the  fight  the  Trojan  chief 
was  severely  rebuked  by  Glau'cus,  a  Lycian  warrior, 
who  had  been  the  comrade  of  the  brave  Sarpedon. 
Glaucus  wished  to  get  the  body  of  Patroclus  so 
that  with  it  he  might  ransom  Sarpedon's  armor 
from  the  Greeks.  Hector  answered  Glaucus,  say- 
ing that  he  feared  not  the  battle's  fury,  as  he  would 
presently  show.  Then  he  put  on  the  armor  of 
Achilles  and  he  called  to  the  Trojans  to  follow  him, 
promising  a  rich  reward  to  the  warrior  who  should 
carry  off  the  body  for  which  they  were  going  to  fight. 


'  To  him  who  from  the  field  will  drag  and  bring 
The  slain  Patroclus  to  the  Trojan  knights, 
Compelling  Ajax  to  give  way,  —  to  him 
I  yield  up  half  the  spoil;  the  other  half 
I  keep,  and  let  his  glory  equal  mine." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVII. 

With  Hector  at  their  head  the  Trojans  now 
rushed  forward.  Ajax,  seeing  them  advance,  bade 
Menelaus  summon  the  other  Greek  warriors  to 
help  in  defending  the  body  of  their  countryman. 
Quickly  they  were  called  and  quickly  they  came. 
Then  hand  to  hand  and  sword  to  sword  both 
armies  fought,  and  the  battle  raged  furiously  round 
the  corpse  of  Patroclus. 


1 88 

They  of  Ilium  strove 
To  drag  it  to  the  city,  they  of  Greece, 
To  bear  it  to  the  fleet. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVII. 

At  last  Menelaus  and  a  brother  warrior  lifted  jap 
the  body  and  bore  it  away  towards  the  trench. 
The  Trojans  followed,  but  the  two  Ajaxes  turned 
around  and,  facing  the  pursuers,  fought  with  heroic 
bravery  to  hold  them  back. 

Thus,  in  hot  pursuit 

And  close  array,  the  Trojans  following  strook 
With  swords  and  two-edged  spears ;  but  when  the  twain 
Turned  and  stood  firm  to  meet  them,  every  cheek 
Grew  pale,  and  not  a  single  Trojan  dared 
Draw  near  the  Greeks  to  combat  for  the  corse. 

Thus  rapidly  they  bore  away  the  dead 
Toward  their  good  galleys  from  the  battlefield. 
Onward  with  them  the  furious  battle  swept. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVII. 

Meanwhile  Antilochus,  the  son  of  Nestor,  was 
sent  from  the  field  to  carry  to  Achilles  the  sad  news 
of  the  death  of  Patroclus.  The  chief  was  just  then 
sitting  near  his  ships  thinking  over  the  event  which 
he  feared  had  already  happened,  for  the  shouts  of 
the  Greeks  as  they  fled  from  the  plain  pursued  by 
the  Trojans,  had  reached  his  ears.  Upon  learning 
the  tidings  brought  by  Antilochus,  the  hero  burst 
into  a  fit  of  grief,  tearing  his  hair,  throwing  himself 


1 89 

on  the  earth,  and  uttering  loud  lamentations.  His 
goddess  mother,  Thetis,  in  her  father's  palace  be- 
neath the  waves,  heard  his  cries.  She  hastened  up, 
attended  by  a  number  of  sea  nymphs,  and,  embrac- 
ing her  son,  inquired  the  cause  of  his  grief.  Achilles 
told  her  of  the  death  of  his  dear  friend,  and  then 

said: 

"  No  wish 

Have  I  to  live  or  to  concern  myself 
In  men's  affairs,  save  this:  that  Hector  first, 
Pierced  by  my  spear,  shall  yield  his  life,  and  pay 
The  debt  of  vengeance  for  Patroclus  slain." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVIII. 

The  weeping  mother,  wishing  to  save  her  son, 
told  him  of  the  fate  which  had  decreed  that  his  own 
death  should  soon  follow  that  of  Hector. 

"  Ah  then,  I  see  thee  dying,  see  thee  dead! 
When  Hector  falls,  thou  diest." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XVIII. 

But  the  warning  of  Thetis  was  in  vain.  "  Let  my 
death  come,"  said  he,  "  when  the  gods  will  it.  I  shall 
have  revenge  on  Hector,  by  whose  hand  my  friend 
has  been  slain." 

Seeing  that  she  could  not  induce  him  to  alter  his 
purpose,  his  mother  reminded  him  that  his  bright 
armor  had  been  seized  by  the  Trojans.  She  bade 
him  therefore  not  go  to  battle  until  she  should  bring 
him  new  armor  made  by  Vulcan,  which  she  prom- 


190 

ised  to  do  early  next  morning.  Then  she  com- 
manded the  other  nymphs  to  return  to  their  ocean 
home,  and  she  herself  ascended  to  Olympus,  to  ask 
the  god  of  smiths  to  forge  glittering  armor  for  her 
son. 

Meantime  the  fight  over  the  body  of  Patroclus 
still  continued.  The  Greeks  were  now  driven  to 
their  ships,  and  in  danger  of  being  totally  defeated. 
Three  times  Hector  seized  the  body  by  the  feet,  to 
drag  it  away,  and  three  times  the  mighty  A i axes 
forced  him  back.  Still  again  he  seized  it,  and  this 
time  he  would  have  borne  it  away,  had  not  Juno 
sent  Iris  down  to  Achilles  to  bid  him  hasten  to  the 
relief  of  his  friends. 

"  But  how,"  he  asked,  "  can  I  go  forth  to  the  battle, 
since  the  enemy  have  my  arms  ?  "  Iris  answered : 

"  Go  thou  to  the  trench,  and  show  thyself 
To  them  of  Troy,  that,  haply  smit  with  fear, 
They  may  desist  from  battle." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVIII. 

Then  the  goddess  Minerva  spread  a  golden  cloud 
around  the  head  of  Achilles,  and  she  kindled  in  it 
a  bright  flame  that  streamed  upward  to  the  sky. 
And  the  hero  went  out  beyond  the  wall,  and  stood 
beside  the  trench,  and  he  shouted  in  a  voice  loud  as 
a  trumpet  sound,  —  a  shout  that  carried  dismay  into 
the  ranks  of  the  Trojans. 


igl 

The  hearts  of  all  who  heard  that  brazen  voice 
Were  troubled,  and  their  steeds  with  flowing  manes 
Turned  backward  with  the  chariots,  — such  the  dread 
Of  coming  slaughter. 

Thrice  o'er  the  trench  Achilles  shouted;  thrice 

The  men  of  Troy  and  their  renowned  allies 

Fell  into  wild  disorder.     Then  there  died, 

Entangled  midst  the  chariots,  and  transfixed 

By  their  own  spears,  twelve  of  their  bravest  chiefs. 

The  Greeks  bore  off  Patroclus  from  the  field 

With  eager  haste,  and  placed  him  on  a  bier, 

And  there  the  friends  that  loved  him  gathered  round 

Lamenting. 

BRYANT,  Jliad,  Book  XVIJI. 

So  ended  the  long  and  terrible  battle  of  the  day, 
for  Juno  now  commanded  the  sun  to  set.  In  obedi- 
ence to  the  queen  of  heaven  the  god  of  light  de- 
scended into  the  ocean  streams,  though  unwillingly 
he  did  so,  as  it  was  earlier  than  the  proper  time  for 
sunset. 

The  Trojan  leaders,  meanwhile,  assembled  in 
council  on  the  plain  to  consider  what  preparations 
should  be  made  for  the  battle  of  the  morrow,  in 
which,  they  knew,  the  terrible  Achilles  would  take 
part.  Po-lyd'a-mas,  a  prudent  chief,  proposed  that 
they  should  withdraw  into  the  city.  There  they 
might  defend  themselves  from  their  ramparts,  for 
even  Achilles,  with  all  his  valor,  would  not  be  able  to 


192 

force  his  way  through  their  strong  walls.  But  Hec- 
tor rejected  this  wise  advice.  He  resolved  to  risk 
the  chance  of  war  in  the  open  field,  and  let  the  god 
of  battles  decide  who  should  win. 

"  Soon  as  the  morn  the  purple  orient  warms, 
Fierce  on  yon  navy  will  we  pour  our  arms. 
If  great  Achilles  rise  in  all  his  might, 
His  be  the  danger:  I  shall  stand  the  fight. 
Honor,  ye  gods!  or  let  me  gain  or  give; 
And  live  he  glorious,  whosoe'er  shall  live! 

POPE.  Iliad,  Book  XVIII. 


XL  END  OF  THE  WRATH  OF  ACHILLES  — 
DEATH  OF  HECTOR. 


Design  by  Burns- f ones. 

STO.  OF  TROY  —  13 


THETIS  faithfully  performed 
her  promise  to  Achilles. 
Having  ascended  to  the  top 
of  Olympus,  she  found  the  god 
of  smiths  busy  in  his  forge,  a 
workshop  so  magnificent  that 
it  was  a  wonder  to  the  gods 
themselves. 

Silver-footed  Thetis  came 

Meanwhile  to  Vulcan's  halls, 
eternal,  gemmed 

Wjth  stars,  a  wonder  to  the  im- 
mortals, wrought 

Of  brass  by  the  lame  god.  She 
found  him  there 

Sweating  and  toiling,  and  with 
busy  hand 

Plying  the  bellows. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVIII. 

Vulcan  willingly  con- 
sented to  make  the  armor 

1 03 


194 

as  Thetis  requested,  for  she  had  been  his  friend 
and  had  protected  him  in  his  infancy,  when  his 
mother  Juno  threw  him  out  of  heaven  into  the  sea. 
Juno  did  this  because  Vulcan  was  not  a  good-looking 
child.  He  was,  in  fact,  so  ugly  that  his  mother  could 
not  bear  the  sight  of  him,  and  so  she  cast  him  out 
of  Olympus.  But  Thetis  and  her  sister  Eu-ryn'o-me 
received  him  in  their  arms  as  he  fell,  and  for  nine 
years  they  nursed  and  took  care  of  him  in  their 
father's  palace  beneath  the  waves.  Gladly,  therefore, 
Vulcan  set  to  work  at  the  request  of  his  old  friend. 
In  his  workshop  were  immense  furnaces,  and  he  had 
plenty  of  precious  material  in  store. 

Upon  the  fire 

He  laid  impenetrable  brass,  and  tin, 
And  precious  gold  and  silver;  on  its  block 
Placed  the  huge  anvil,  took  the  ponderous  sledge, 
And  held  the  pincers  in  the  other  hand. 

BJYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVIII. 

And  first  he  made  a  shield,  large  and  massive, 
upon  which  he  wrought  figures  of  the  earth  and  the 
sky,  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  with  many  other  beau- 
tiful designs.  He  wrought  upon  it  numerous  scenes 
of  human  life,  —  representations  of  war  and  peace,  of 
battles  and  sieges,  of  reapers  in  the  harvest  fields,  of 
shepherds  tending  their  flocks,  of  vintagers  gather- 
ing their  grapes;  and  scenes  of  festivity  with  music, 


Painting  by  Gerard. 

THETIS  BRINGING  ARMOR  TO  ACHILLES. 


(195) 


196 

song,  and  dancing.  Homer  gives  a  long  and  splen- 
did description  of  this  wonderful  shield.  When 
Vulcan  had  finished  it,  he  forged  a  corselet  brighter 
than  fire,  and  greaves  of  tin,  and  a  helmet  with  crest 
of  gold.  Then  he  laid  the  magnificent  armor  at  the 
feet  of  Thetis,  and  the  goddess  bore  it  away  and 
carried  it  down  to  the  Grecian  camp  in  the  early 
morning  to  present  it  to  her  son. 

Like  a  falcon  in  her  flight, 

Down  plunging  from  Olympus  capped  with  snow, 
She  bore  the  shining  armor  Vulcan  gave. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVIII. 

Great  was  the  delight  of  Achilles  on  seeing  the 
beautiful  armor  and  the  marvelous  workmanship  of 
its  various  parts.  And  nowjie  hastened  to  prepare 
for  battle.  First  he  went  along  the  beach  from  tent 
to  tent,  calling  with  a  mighty  shout  on  his  brother 
chiefs  to  assemble.  When  all  were  together  Jie 
spoke  friendly  w^rr]^  to  Agamemnon.  expressing 
sorrow  that  strife  had  come  between  them,  and 
declarin  that  his  wrath  was  now  ended. 


tlu-n  my  anger  ends;  let  war  succeed, 
And  even  as  Greece  has  bled,  let  Ilion  bleed. 
Now  call  tin-  hosts,  and  try  if  in  our  sight 
Troy  yet  shall  dare  to  camp  a  second  night!  " 

I'oi'K,  ///W,  Book  XIX. 

Agamemnon,    too,    spoke    words    of    peace    and 
friendship,  and  all  the  chiefs  rejoiced  that  the  anger 


197 

of  Achilles,  which  had  brought  so  many  woes  upon 
the  Greeks,  was  at  length  appeased.  Then  the 
troops  took  their  morning  meal,  and  when  they  had 
refreshed  themselves  with  food  and  drink,  they 
marched  forth  to  the  field.  Achilles,  having  put 
on  his  bright  armor,  mounted  his  chariot,  to  which 
were  yoked  the  two  immortal  and  swift-footed  steeds, 
Xanthus  and  Balius. 

And  here  a  wonderful  thing  occurred.  When  the 
hero  spoke  to  the  animals,  charging  them  in  loud 
and  terrible  voice  to  bring  him  back  safely  from  the 
battle,  and  not  leave  him  dead  on  the  plain,  as  they 
had  left  Patroclus,  Xanthus,  to  whom  Juno  had, 
for  the  moment,  given  the  power  of  speech,  replied 
to  the  words  of  his  master,  saying  that  it  was  not 
through  any  fault  of  himself  and  his  comrade  that 
Patroclus  had  been  slain,  but  by  the  interference  of 
Apollo.  He  also  warned  Achilles  that  the  hour  of 
his  own  death  was  near  at  hand. 

"  Not  through  our  crime,  or  slowness  in  the  course, 
Fell  thy  Patroclus,  but  by  heavenly  force; 
The  bright  far-shooting  god  who  gilds  the  day 
(Confess'd  we  saw  him)  tore  his  arms  away. 
No  — could  our  swiftness  o'er  the  winds  prevail, 
Or  beat  the  pinions  of  the  western  gale, 
All  were  in  vain  —  the  Fates  thy  death  demand, 
Due  to  a  mortal  and  immortal  hand." 

POPS,  Iliad,  Hook  XIX. 


But  Achilles  already  knew  his  fate,  and  he  was 
prepared  to  meet  it  with  courage. 

"  I  know  my  fate:  to  die,  to  see  no  more 
My  much-loved  parents,  and  my  native  shore  — 
Enough  —  when  heaven  ordains,  I  sink  in  night: 
Now  perish  Troy!  "  He  said,  and  rush'd  to  fight. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XIX. 

In  the  battle  which  now  be^an  many  of  the  gods 
took  active  part,  Jupiter,  at  a  council  on  Mount 
Olympus,  having  given  them  permission  to  do  so. 
Down  to  the  plain  before  Troy  they  sped  with 
haste,  Juno,  Minerva,  Neptune,  Mercury,  and  Vul- 
can taking  the  side  of  the  Greeks,  and  Mars, 
Apollo,  Venus,  Diana,  Latona,  and  the  river  god, 
Xanthus,  going  to  the  assistance  of  the  Trojans. 

Meantime  Achilles,  having  rushed  forth  to  the 
field,  plunged  into  the  thick  of  the  fight,  eagerly 
seeking  for  Hector.  But  first  he  met  ^Eneas, 
whom  Apollo  had  urged  to  encounter  him.  Achilles 
warned  the  Trojan  hero  to  withdraw  from  the  battle. 

"  Once  already,"  said  he,  "  I  forced  you  to  flee 
before  my  spear,  running  fast  down  Ida's  slopes.  I 
counsel  you  now  to  retire,  lest  evil  happen  to  you." 

^Eneas  answered  that  he  was  not  to  be  thus 
frightened,  as  if  he  were  a  beardless  boy.  "  I  am 
the  son  of  the  goddess  Venus,"  said  he,  "and  my 
father,  Anchises,  was  descended  from  Jove  himself. 


199 

We  are  not  here,  however,  to  talk,  but  to  fight,  and 
words  will  not  turn  me  from  my  purpose." 

So  saying,  /Eneas  hurled  his  spear.  It  struck 
the  shield  of  Achilles  with  a  ringing  sound,  and 
passed  through  two  of  its  folds. 

Vulcan's  skill 

Fenced  with  five  folds  the  disk, —  the  outer  two 
Of  brass,  the  inner  two  of  tin;  between 
Was  one  of  gold,  and  there  the  brazen  spear 
Was  stayed. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XX. 

Achilles  now  cast  his  heavy  javelin.  Through  the 
shield  of  /Eneas  it  crashed,  but,  as  the  hero  stooped 
to  avoid  it,  the  spear  passed  over  his  shoulder,  and 
plunged  deep  into  the  earth.  Then  with  sword 
in  hand,  the  Myrmidonian  chief  rushed  furiously 
upon  ^neas.  He  would  probably  have  slain  him, 
had  not  Neptune  interfered.  But  the  ocean  god 
spread  a  mist  over  the  eyes  of  the  Greek  warrior, 
and  carried  /Eneas  away  in  safety  to  the  rear  of  the 
battlefield.  The  Trojan  prince  was  thus  preserved 
because  the  Dardan  race,  to  which  he  belonged , 
was  beloved  by  Jupiter.  Moreover  it  was  decreed 
by  the  Fates  that  the  son  of  Anchises  should,  in 
later  times,  rule  over  a  Trojan  people,  and  that  his 
sons'  sons  should  rule  after  him. 

Having  placed  /Eneaa  out  of  danger,  Neptune 


200 

removed  the  mist  from  the  eyes  of  Achilles.  The 
heroT  on  looking  about  him,  was  amazed  at  not 
seeing  the  foe  with  whom,  only  an  instant  before, 
he  had  been  in  fierce  conflict.  But  he  did  not  wait 
to  think  over  this  strange  occurrence.  Rushing 
into  the  midst  of  the  Trojans,  he  smote  down  wa.r- 
rior  after  warrior,  as  they  came  within  reach  of  his 
spear.  Amongst  them  was  Pol-v-do'rus,  the  young- 
est son  of  Priam.  His  father  had  forbidden  him  to 
go  into  the  battle,  because  he  loved  him  most  of  all 
his  sons.  But  Polydorus  was  a  brave  youth,  and 
he  wished  to  show  his  swiftness,  for  in  speed  of  foot 
he  excelled  all  the  young  men  of  Troy. 

He  ranged  the  field,  until  he  lost  his  life. 
Him  with  a  javelin  the  swift-footed  son 
Of  Peleus  smote  as  he  was  hurrying  by. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XX. 

Now  Hector  had  been  warned  by  Apollo  to 
avoid  meeting  Achilles,  but  when  he  saw  his  young 
brother  slain,  he  could  no  longer  stand  aloof.  He 
therefore  sprang  forward  to  attack  the  son  of  The- 
tis. As  soon  as  Achilles  saw  the  Trojan  chief,  he 
bounded  towards  him,  crying  out: 

"  Draw  nearer  that  thou  mayst  the  sooner  die." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XX. 

Hector  replied  in  words  of  defiance,  and  then 


201 

brandished  and  hurled  forth  his  spear.  But  Min- 
erva turned  it  aside,  and  it  missed  its  aim.  Then 
Achilles,  with  a  wild  shout,  rushed  against  his 
enemy.  Apollo  now  came  to  the  rescue,  covering 
the  Trojan  hero  in  a  veil  of  clouds,  and  taking  him 
away  from  the  conflict.  The  enraged  Achilles 
struck  into  the  dense  mist  with  his  sword  again  and 
again,  and  in  loud  voice  reproached  Hector  for  what 
seemed  to  be  his  cowardly  flight. 

"  Hound  as  thou  art,  thou  hast  once  more  escaped 
Thy  death;  for  it  was  near.     Again  the  hand 
Of  Phoebus  rescues  theg.     I  shall  meet  thee  yet 
And  end  thee  utterly,  if  any  god 
Favor  me  also.     I  will  now  pursue 
And  strike  the  other  Trojan  warriors  down." 

BKYANT,  Iliad.  Book  XX. 

The  enraged  hero  then  attacked  t}ie  Trojans  so 
furiously  that  they  fled  before  him  in  dismay. 
Some  rushed  towards  the  gates  of  the  city,  others 
to  the  Xanthus,  into  which  they  leaped  in  such 
numbers  that  the  river  was  soon  filled  with  a  crowd 
of  steeds  and  men. 

So,  plunged  in  Xanthus  by  Achilles'  force, 
Roars  the  resounding  surge  with  men  and  horse. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XXI. 

But  now  the  terrible  Myrmidonian  chief  descended 


202 

from  his  chariot,  and  with  sword  in  hand  pursued 
the  Trojans  into  the  water.  There  he  slew  so 
many  that  the  stream  became  blocked  with  the 
bodies  of  the  dead.  The  river  god,  roused  to 
anger,  called  to  Achilles  in  a  loud  voice  from  the 
depths  of  the  Xanthus,  saying  that  if  he  meant  to 
destroy  the  whole  Trojan  race,  he  must  do  it  on  the 
plain,  and  not  stop  the  waters  in  their  course  to  the 
sea. 

"  For  now  my  pleasant  waters,  in  their  flow, 
Are  choked  with  heaps  of  dead,  and  I  no  more 
Can  pour  them  into  the  great  deep,  so  thick 
The  corpses  clog  my  bed,  while  thou  dost  slay 
And  sparest  not." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXI. 

Achilles  answered  that  he  would  not  cease  to 
slay  the  treaty-breaking  Trojans  until  they  were 
punished  as  they  deserved.  At  this  the  river  god 
was  so  enraged  that  HP  sent  his  waters  with  tre- 
mendous force  against  the  hero.  The  waves  now 
surged  around  Achilles,  beating  upon  his  shield, 
and  buffeting  him  so  violently  that  he  was  in  dan- 
ger of  being  overwhelmed.  He  saved  himself  only 
by  grasping  the  bough  of  an  elm  tree  which  grew 
on  the  river's  edge,  and  so  gaining  the  bank. 
Then  the  angry  god,  rising  in  greater  fury,  swept 
his  mighty  billows  out  upon  the  plain.  The  Greek 


2O3 

hero  bravely  attempted  to  fight  this  new  enemy,  but 
his  valor  and  his  weapons  were  powerless  against 
such  an  attack. 

As  often  as  the  noble  son 
Of  Peleus  made  a  stand  in  hope  to  know 
Whether  the  deathless  gods  of  the  great  heaven 
Conspired  to  make  him  flee,  so  often  came 
A  mighty  billow  of  the  Jove-born  stream 
And  drenched  his  shoulders.     Then  again  he  sprang 
Away;  the  rapid  torrent  made  his  knees 
To  tremble,  while  it  swept,  where'er  he  trod, 
The  earth  from  underneath  his  feet. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXI. 

Achilles  now  prayed  to  the  gods  for  help,  and 
Neptune  and  Minerva  came  and  encouraged  him, 
saying  that  he  was  not  to  be  thus -conquered^  Still 
as  Xanthus  called  upon  his  brother  river,  Simois,  to 
join  him  in  defense  of  King  Priam's  noble  city,  it 
might  have  fared  badly  with  the  Greeks,  had  not 
Vulcan  come  to  their  help.  At  the  request  of  Juno 
the  god  of  lire  sent  down  a  vast  quantity  of  flames, 
which  scorched  and  dried  up  the  plain,  and  burned 
the  trees  and  reeds  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers. 
Vulcan  began  to  dry  up  even  the  rivers  themselves. 
Then  Xanthus  became  terrified  and  begged  for 
mercy,  promising  that  he  would  not  again  interfere 
in  the  fight  on  either  side. 


204 

"  Oh  Vulcan!  oh!  what  power  resists  thy  might? 
I  faint,  I  sink,  unequal  to  the  fight  — 
I  yield  —  Let  Ilion  fall;  if  fate  decree  — 
Ah  —  bend  no  more  thy  fiery  arms  on  me!  " 

POI-E,  Iliad^  Book  XXI. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  Juno  entreated  him  jo 
do  so,  that  Vulcan  withdrew  his  flames,  and  the 
rivers  were  permitted  to  flow  on  again  in  peace  and 
safety.  Achilles  now  renewed  his  attack  on  the 
Trojans.  The  gods  also  rushed  into  the  conflict. 
Mars  launched  his  brazen  spear  at  Minerva,  but; 
with  the  terrible  ecgis,  the  goddess  warded  off  the 
blow.  Then  Minerva  lifted  up  a  great  rough  stone 
and  hurled  it  at  Mars,  striking  him  on  the  neck,  and 
stretching  him  senseless  on  the  ground. 

He  felt 
With  nerveless  limbs,  and  covered,  as  he  lay, 

Seven  acres  of  the  field. 

HKVXNT,  ///W,  Rook  XXI. 

Venus  hastened  to  the  relief  of  the  wounded  god, 
and,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  led  him  away  groaning 
with  pain.  Juno,  \vho  had  been  a  spectator  of  the 

fight,  no\v  approached   Minrrfci^arid   urged   her  to 
C2~fcJ^c0  jit^^r 

attack  Venus.  She  gladly  consented  to  do  as  the 
fjiu-rn  ofheavcn  desired.  Following  up  the  goddess 
of  beauty,  Minerva  gave  her  a  mighty  blow  on  the 
breast,  throwing  her  prostrate  on  the  earth.  At  the 


(Janova. 


VENUS. 


206 


same  time  Neptune  challenged  Apollo  to  fight. 
He  reminded  him,  too,  of  King  Laomedon's  conduct 
toward  both  of  them,  many  years  before,  and  re- 
proached him  for  being  now  on  the  side  of  the 
descendants  of  that  faithless  king.  But  Apollo 
refused  to  fight  with  the  ocean  god. 

"  Thou  wouldst  not  deem  me  wise,  should  I  contend 
With  thee,  O  Neptune,  for  the  sake  of  men, 
Who  flourish  like  the  forest  leaves  awhile, 
And  feed  upon  the  fruits  of  earth    and  then 
Decay  and  perish." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXI. 

But  though  Apollo  would  not  fight  with  Nep- 
tune, he  continued  to  help  the  Trojans.  Achilles 
had  driven  them  in  terror  up  under  their  walls,  and 
King  Priam  had  ordered  the  gates  to  be  thrown 
open  to  admit  the  flying  hosts.  Multitudes  of  them 
rushed  in,  while  the  furious  son  of  Thetis  pressed 
on  behind.  It  was  a  moment  of  danger  for  Troy, 
and  the  Greeks  might  soon  have  taken  the  city,  if 
Apollo  had  not  encouraged  young  Agenor,  the  son 
of  Antenor,  to  attack  Achilles.  The  brave  youth 
advanced,  and  cast  his  spear,  striking  the  hero  at  the 
knee.  But  it  could  not  pierce  the  armor  Vulcan 
had  made.  Then  the  Greek  chief  aimed  at 
Agenor,  and  again  Apollo  came  to  the  rescue,  con- 
cealing the  Trojan  youth  in  a  veil  of  darkness,  and 
carrying  him  safely  away.  But  in  an  instant  the 


207 

god  returned,  and,  taking  upon  himself  Agenor's 
shape  and  appearance,  stood  for  a  moment  in  front 
of  Achilles  Then  he  turned  and  fled  along  the 
plain,  followed  fast  by  the  enraged  Greek.  Thus 
Apollo  gave  the  Trojans  time  to  get  within  the  city 
and  shut  their  gates. 

Achilles  chased  the  god 
Ever  before  him,  yet  still  near,  across 
The  fruitful  fields,  to  the  deep-eddied  stream 
Of  Xanthus ;  for  Apollo  artfully 
Made  it  to  seem  that  he  should  soon  o'ertake 
His  flying  foe,  and  thus  beguiled  him  on. 
Meanwhile  the  routed  Trojans  gladly  thronged 
Into  the  city,  filled  the  streets,  and  closed 
The  portals. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXI. 

Hector  alone  of  all  the  Trojans  remained  outside 
the  walls,  standing  in  front  of  the  Scaean  Gate. 
Achilles  still  pursued  Apollo,  thinking  that  he  was 
Agenor,  but  at  last  the  god  made  himself  knowELto 
his  pursuer.  The  hero  reproached  him  angrily  for 
his  deception,  and  then  with  the  utmost  speed  he 
hastened  across  the  plain  towards  the  city.  From 
the  ramparts  the  aged  King  Priam  beheld  him  com- 
ing, and  in  piteous  words  he  cried  out  to  Hector, 
imploring  him  to  take  refuge  within  the  walls. 
Queen  Hecuba,  too,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  begged 
her  son  to  withdraw,  and  not  be  so  mad  as  to  en- 


208 

counter  the  terrible  Greek  chief  alone.  But  Hector 
would  not  yield  to  the  entreaties  of  his  weeping  par- 
ents. He  had  refused  to  take  the  advice  of  Poly- 
clamas  to  withdraw  into  the  city  on  the  previous 
night,  and  if  he  should  pass  within  the  walls  now, 
after  Achilles  had  slain  so  many  of  the  Trojans, 
Polydamas  would  be  the  first  to  reproach  him. 
Thus  the  hero  reasoned  with  himself  and  so  he  re- 
solved to  stand  and  face  his  foe. 

"  No  —  if  I  e'er  return,  return  I  must 
Glorious,  my  country's  terror  laid  in  dust: 
Or  if  I  perish,  let  her  see  me  fall 
In  field  at  least,  and  fighting  for  her  wall." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XXII. 

Achilles  now  approached.  Terrible  he  was  in  ap- 
pearance. His  great  javelin  quivered  fearfully  on 
his  shoulder,  and  a  light  as  of  blazing  fire,  or  of  the 
rising  sun,  shone  from  his  heavenly  armor.  Hector 
trembled  with  fear  when  he  looked  upon  the  Grecian 
leader.  So  great  was  his  terror  that  he  did  not  dare 
to  wait,  but  fled  away  round  the  city  wall.  Achilles 
quickly  pursued  him,__as  a  hawk  pursues  a  dove. 
They  ran  till  they  came  to  two  springs  where  the 
stream  of  the  Xanthus  rose.  From  one  of  these 
springs  a  hot  vapor  ascended,  like  smoke  from  fire, 
and  from  the  other  a  current  cold  as  ice  issued  even 
in  summer.  Past  these  the  warriors  swept  on. 


209 

One  fled,  and  one  pursued,  — 
A  brave  man  fled,  a  braver  followed  close, 
And  swiftly  both.     Not  for  a  common  prize, 
A  victim  from  the  herd,  a  bullock's  hide, 
Such  as  reward  the  fleet  of  foot,  they  ran,  — 
The  race  was  for  the  knightly  Hector's  life. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXII. 

Three  times  they  ran  round  the  walls,  in  sight  of 
the  Greeks  and  Trojans.  The  gods  of  heaven,  too, 
were  looking  on  from  the  top  of  Mount  Olympus, 
and  Jupiter,  taking  pity  on  Hector,  thought  that 
they  should  save  him  from  death.  But  Minerva 
protested.  His  doom,  she  said,  had  been  fixed  by 
the  Fates,  and  even  Jupiter  could  not  alter  it  —  at 
least  not  with  the  approval  of  the  other  gods.  The 
cloud-compelling  king  was  obliged  to  give  way,  and 
so  the  Trojan  chief  was  left  to  his  fate.  Then  Min- 
erva rushed  down  to  the  field,  and  still  Hector  fled 
and  Achilles  pursued:  As  often  as  they  passed 
around,  Hector  attempted  to  approach  the  gates, 
hoping  for  help  from  his  friends.  But  each  time 
Achilles  got  before  him  and  turned  him  away  to- 
wards the  plain ;  s  and  he  made  a  sign  to  the  Greeks 
that  none  of  them  should  cast  a  spear,  for  he  wished 
that  he  alone  should  have  all  the  glory  of  slaying 
the  greatest  of  the  Trojan  heroes. 

Now  Apollo  had  been  helping  Hector,  giving  him 
strength  and  speed,  but  when,  for  the  fourth  time, 

STO.   OF  TROY  —  14 


2IO 

the  heroes  reached  the  Xanthus  springs,  Jupiter 
raised  high  the  golden  balance  of  fate.  There  were 
two  lots  in  the  scales,  one  for  the  son  of  Peleus,  the 
other  for  the  Trojan  chief.  By  the  middle  the  king 
of  heaven  held  the  balance,  and  the  lot  of  Hector 
sank  down.  Immediately  Apollo  departed  from  the 
field,  for  he  could  no  longer  go  against  the  Fates. 
Then  Minerva  came  close  to  Hector's  side,  and, 
taking  the  form  and  voice  of  his  brother  Deiphobus, 
she  urged  him  to  stand  and  fight  Achilles. 

"  Hard  pressed  I  find  thee,  brother,  by  the  swift 
Achilles,  who,  with  feet  that  never  rest, 
Pursues  thee  round  the  walls  of  Priam's  town. 
But  let  us  make  a  stand  and  beat  him  back." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXII. 

Thus  encouraged,  as  he  thought  by  his  brother, 
whom  he  was  surprised  to  see  at  his  side,  for  he  be- 
lieved him  to  be  in  the  city,  the  Trojan  hero  turned 
around,  and  was  soon  face  to  face  with  his  great  foe. 
Knowing  that  the  hour  had  now  come  when  one  of 
them  must  die,  Hector  proposed  to  Achilles  that 
they  should  make  a  covenant,  or  agreement,  between 
them  that  the  victor  in  the  fight  should  give  the 
other's  body  to  his  friends,  so  that  funeral  rites 
might  be  performed.  But  the  wrathful  Achilles 
refused.  He  would  have  no  covenant  with  his 
enemy. 


211 

"Accursed  Hector,  never  talk  to  me 
Of  covenants.     Men  and  lions  plight  no  faith, 
Nor  wolves  agree  with  lambs,  but  each  must  plan 
Evil  against  the  other.     So  between 
Thyself  and  me  no  compact  can  exist, 
Or  understood  intent.      First,  one  of  us 
Must  fall  and  yield  his  life  blood  to  the  god 
Of  battles." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXII. 

Then  the  fight  began.  Achilles  first  cast  his 
spear.  It  was  a  weapon  heavy,  huge,  and  strong, 
that  no  mortal  arm  but  his  own  could  wield.  Its 
shaft  was  made  of  a  tree  which  the  famous  Chi'ron, 
instructor  of  heroes  in  the  art  of  war,  had  cut  on 
Mount  Pe'li-on  and  given  to  the  father  of  Achilles. 

His  strength 

Alone  sufficed  to  wield  it.     'Twas  an  ash 
Which  Chiron  felled  in  Pelion's  top,  and  gave 
To  Peleus,  that  it  yet  might  be  the  death 
Of  heroes. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XVI. 

The  Trojan  chief  stooped  to  avoid  the  blow,  and 
the  spear,  passing  over  him,  sunk  in  the  earth. 
Minerva,  unseen  by  Hector,  plucked  it  out  and 
gave  it  back  to  Achilles.  Hector  now  launched 
his  weapon.  With  true  aim  he  hurled  it,  for  it 
struck  the  center  of  his  antagonist's  shield,  but  the 
workmanship  of  Vulcan  was  not  to  be  pierced,  and 


212 

so  the  javelin  of  the  Trojan  hero  bounded  from  the 
brazen  armor  and  fell  to  the  ground.  He  called 
loudly  to  Deiphobus  for  another  spear.  There  was 
no  answer,  and  then  looking  around  him  he  dis- 
covered that  he  had  been  deceived. 

All  comfortless  he  stands;  then,  with  a  sigh: 
"  'Tis  so  —  Heaven  wills  it,  and  my  hour  is  nigh. 
I  deem'd  Deiphobus  had  heard  my  call, 
But  he  secure  lies  guarded  in  the  wall. 
A  god  deceived  me;  Pallas,  'twas  thy  deed, 
Death  and  black  fate  approach!   'tis  I  must  bleed." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XXII. 

Nevertheless,  Hector  resolved  to  fight  bravely  to 
the  end,  and  so  he  drew  his  sword  and  rushed  upon 
Achilles.,  The  Greek  warrior,  watching  his  foe 
closely  as  he  approached,  noticed  an  opening  in  his 
armor,  where  the  collar  of  the  corselet  joined  the 
shoulder.  At  that  spot  he  furiously  thrust  his 
spear,  and  pierced  the  Trojan  hero  through  jthe 
neck^  Hector  fell  to  the  ground,  mortally  wounded. 
In  his  dying  moments  he  begged  Achilles  to  send 
his  body  to  his  parents,  telling  him  that  they  would 
give  large  ransom  in  gold.  But  his  entreaties  were 
in  vain.  Neither  by  prayers  nor  by  promise  of  gold 
could  the  conqueror  be  moved.  The  last  words  of 
Hector  were  words  warning  Achilles  of  his  own 
doom: 


213 

"A  day  will  come  when  fate's  decree 
And  angry  gods  shall  wreak  this  wrong  on  thee; 
Phoebus  and  Paris  shall  avenge  my  fate, 
And  stretch  thee  here  before  the  Scaean  Gate." 
He  ceased.     The  Fates  suppress'd  his  laboring  breath, 
And  his  eyes  stiffen 'd  at  the  hand  of  death. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XXII. 

So  died  the  great  champion  of  the  Trojans.  The 
Greeks  crowded  around  the  dead  hero,  admiring 
his  stature  and  beautiful  figure,  and  remarking  one 
to  another  that  Hector  was  far  less  dangerous  to 
touch  now  than  when  he  was  setting  fire  to  their 
fleet. 

But  the  anger  of  Achilles  was  not  appeased  even 
by  the  death  of  his  foe.  Eager  for  still  more  ven- 
geance,  he  bound  the  feet  of  the  dead  hero  with 
leather  thongs  to  the  back  of  his  chariot,  leaving 
the  head  to  trail  along  the  ground,  and  thus  he 
drove  to  jtheT  ships,  dragging  the~noble  Hector  in 
the  dust. 

The  Trojans,  beholding  this  dreadful  spectacle 
from  the  walls  of  the  city,  broke  out  into  loud 
lamentations,  and  King  Priam  and  Queen  Hecuba 
were  almost  distracted  with  grief.  Andromache 
had  not  been  a  witness  of  the  combat.  She  was  at 
home  with  her  maids,  making  preparations  for  Hec- 
tor's return  from  the  battle,  and  was  therefore  un- 
aware of  the  terrible  events  which  had  taken  place. 


214 

But  the  sound  of  the  wailing  on  the  ramparts 
having  reached  her  ears,  she  rushed  forth  from  the 
palace,  fearful  that  some  evil  had  happened  to  her 
husband.  Hastening  through  the  streets  to  the 
Scaean  Gate,  she  ascended  the  tower,  and  looking 
out  on  the  plain,  saw  the  body  of  her  beloved  Hec- 
tor dragged  behind  the  wheels  of  the  chariot  of 
Achilles.  Overpowered  with  grief  at  the  sight,  the 
unhappy  woman  sank  fainting  into  the  arms  of  her 
attendants. 

A  sudden  darkness  shades  her  swimming  eyes: 
She  faints,  she  falls;  her  breath,  her  color  flies. 
Her  hair's  fair  ornaments,  the  braids  that  bound, 
The  net  that  held  them,  and  the  wreath  that  crown'd, 
The  veil  and  diadem  flew  far  away 
(The  gift  of  Venus  on  her  bridal  day). 
Around  a  train  of  weeping  sisters  stands 
To  raise  her  sinking  with  assistant  hands. 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XXII. 

While  the  Trojans  thus  mourned  the  loss  of  their 
chief,  his  body  was  dragged  into  the  Grecian  camp 
and  flung  on  the  beach  beside  the  ships.  Prepara- 
tions were  then  made  for  funeral  services  in  honor 
of  Patroclus.  The  ceremonies  occupied  three  days. 
A  vast  quantity  of  wood  was  cut  down  on  Mount 
Ida,  and  carried  to  the  plain,  where  the  logs  were 
heaped  together  in  an  immense  pile,  a  hundred  feet 


215 

square.  Upon  this  they  placed  the  corpse.  They 
next  put  upon  the  pile  the  fat  of  several  oxen,  that 
it  might  the  more  easily  burn,  and  they  slew  and 
laid  upon  it  the  dead  man's  horses.  Achilles  cut 
off  a  lock  of  his  own  hair  and  put  it  in  the  dead 
hero's  hand,  and  each  of  the  other  warriors  placed 
a  lock  of  his  hair  on  the  body. 

Torches  were  now  applied,  and  they  prayed  to 
the  wind  gods,  Bo're-as  and  Zeph'y-rus,  to  send 
strong  breezes  to  fan  the  flames.  All  through  the 
night  the  pile  blazed  with  a  mighty  roar,  and  in  the 
morning,  when  it  was  consumed,  the  embers  were 
quenched  with  wine,  and  the  bones  of  Patroclus 
were  gathered  up  and  inclosed  in  a  golden  urn. 
On  the  spot  where  the  pyre  had  stood  they  raised  a 
mound  of  earth  as  a  monument  to  the  hero. 

Then  there  were  funeral  games  at  which  valuable 
prizes,  given  by  Achilles,  were  competed  for, —  prizes 
of  gold  and  silver,  and  shining  weapons,  and  vases, 
and  steeds,  and  oxen.  Diomede  won  the  prize  in 
the  chariot  race,  for  he  ran  with  the  immortal  horses 
he  had  taken  in  battle  from  ^neas.  In  the  wrest- 
ling match  Ulysses  and  Ajax  Telamon  were  the 
rival  champions.  Both  displayed  such  strength  and 
skill  that  it  could  not  be  decided  which  was  the 
victor,  and  so  a  prize  of  equal  value  was  given  to 
each.  Ajax  Telamon  also  competed  with  Diomede 


216 

in  a  combat  with  swords,  and  both  were  declared 
equal  and  received  each  a  prize. 

In  the  contest  with  bow  and  arrows,  Teu'cer  and 
Me-ri'o-nes  were  the  competitors,  and  a  dove  tied  to 
the  top  of  a  mast  fixed  in  the  ground,  was  the 
object  aimed  at.  Teucer  missed  the  bird,  but  he 
struck  and  cut  the  cord  that  fastened  her  to  the  pole, 
and  she  flew  up  into  the  heavens.  Then  Meriones 
shot  at  her  with  his  arrow.  The  weapon  pierced 
the  dove  beneath  the  wing  and  she  fell  to  the  earth. 
This  feat  was  greatly  admired  by  the  spectators, 
and  Meriones  received  as  his  prize  ten  double- 
bladed  battle-axes.  To  Teucer,  whose  performance 
was  also  much  applauded,  a  prize  of  ten  single- 
bladed  axes  was  given. 

Thus  did  Achilles  honor  his  dead  friend  by  fune- 
ral rites  and  funeral  games.  But  his  wrath  against 
Hector  still  continued,  even  when  he  had  dragged 
the  hero's  body  at  his  chariot  wheels  three  times 
round  the  tomb  of  Patroclus.  This  cruel  insult  he 


repeated   at  dawn  for    several    days.     But  Apollo 
watched  the  body. 

Apollo,  moved 

With  pity  for  the  hero,  kept  him  free 
From  soil  or  stain,  though  dead,  and  o'er  him  held 
The  golden  aegis,  lest,  when  roughly  dragged 
Along  the  ground,  the  body  might  be  torn. 

BRYANT,  Iliad.  Book  XXIV. 


MERIONKS"  WOI\DERFUL  SHOT. 


(217) 


218 

But  at  last  the  gods,  with  the  exception  of  Juno, 
were  moved  to  pity,  and  on  the  twelfth  day  from  the 
death  of  the  Trojan  hero,  Jupiter  summoned  Thetis 
to  Olympus,  and  bade  her  command  Achilles  jo 
restore  Hector's  body  to  his  parents.  He  also  sent 
Iris  with  a  message  to  King  Priam,  telling  hirn^to 
go  to  the  Greek  fleet,  bearing  with  him  a  suitable 
ransom  for  his  sori^  Thetis  promptly  carried  out 
the  order  of  Jupiter.  She  told  her  son  of  the  com- 
mand of  the  king  of  heaven,  and  Achilles  answered 
that  since  it  was  the  will  of  Jove  he  was  ready  to 
obey. 

"  Let  him  who  brings  the  ransom  come  and  take 
The  body,  if  it  be  the  will  of  Jove." 

BRYANT,  Hiad,  Book  XXIV. 

Joyfully  the  aged  Priam  received  the  message  of 
Iris,  and  he  made  haste  to  set  out  for  the  Grecian 
camp.  He  took  with  him  costly  things  as  ransom, — 
ten  talents  of  gold,  and  precious  vases  and  goblets, 
and  many  beautiful  robes  of  state.  These  were 
carried  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  four  mules,  which 
were  driven  by  the  herald  Idaeus.  The  king  rode 
in  his  own  chariot  and  he  himself  was  the  charioteer. 
As  they  crossed  the  plain  they  were  met  by  the  god 
Mercury,  whom  Jupiter  had  sent  to  conduct  them 
safely  to  the  tent  of  the  Greek  warrior. 


2I9 

"Haste,  guide  King  Priam  to  the  Grecian  fleet, 
Yet  so  that  none  may  see  him,  and  no  Greek 
Know  of  his  coming,  till  he  stand  before 
Pelides." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXIV. 

Mercury  mounted  the  chariot  of  Priam,  and  tak- 
ing in  his  hands  the  reins,  he  drove  rapidly  towards 
the  ships.  When  they  came  to  the  trenches  the  god 
cast  the  guards  into  a  deep  slumber,  and  so  the 
Trojan  king  and  his  companion  reached  the  tent  of 
the  chief  of  the  Myrmidons,  unseen  by  any  of  the 
Greeks.  Then  Mercury  departed,  and  ascended  to 
Olympus. 

Achilles  received  his  visitors  respectfully,  and  the 
aged  king,  kissing  the  hero's  hand,  knelt  down  be- 
fore him  and  begged  him  have  pity  on  a  father 
mourning  for  his  son. 

"  For  his  sake, I  come 

To  the  Greek  fleet,  and  to  redeem  his  corse 
I  bring  uncounted  ransom.     O,  revere 
The  gods,  Achilles,  and  be  merciful, 
Calling  to  mind  thy  father!  happier  he 
Than  I;  for  I  have  borne  what  no  man  else 
That  dwells  on  earth  could  bear,  — have  laid  my  lips 
Upon  the  hand  of  him  who  slew  my  son." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXIV. 

The  Greek  chief,  moved  by  this  appeal,  replied  in 
kind  words  and  accepted  the  ransom,  after  which  he 


220 

caused  Priam  and  Idaeus  to  sit  down  and  refresh 
themselves  with  food  and  drink,  and  invited  them  to 
remain  with  him  for  the  night  He  al'so  granted  a 
truce  of  twelve  days  for  funeral  rites  in  honor  of 
Hector. 

Early  in  the  morning  the  Trojan  king  and  his 
herald  arose,  and  Mercury  again  descended  from 
Olympus  to  conduct  them  safely  from  the  Grecian 
camp.  Quickly  they  yoked  their  steeds,  and  mourn- 
fully they  drove  across  the  plain  to  the  city.  Cas- 
sandra, who  stood  watching  on  the  citadel  of  Per- 
gamus,  saw  them  coming,  and  she  cried  out  in  a 
loud  voice  to  the  people,  bidding  them  go  and  meet 
their  dead  hero. 

"  If  e'er  ye  rush'd  in  crowds,  with  vast  delight, 
To  hail  your  hero  glorious  from  the  fight, 
Now  meet  him  dead,  and  let  your  sorrows  flow; 
Your  common  triumph,  and  your  common  woe." 

POPE,  Iliad,  Book  XXIV. 

Amid  the  lamentations  of  the  people  the  corpse 
was  borne  through  the  streets  to  the  royal  palace, 
where  it  was  placed  on  a  magnificent  couch.  Then 
Andromache  and  Queen  Hecuba  approached  the 
body  and  wept  aloud,  each  in  turn  uttering  words  of 
grief.  Helen,  too,  came  to  mourn  over  Hector,  and 
she  spoke  of  his  constant  kindness  and  tenderness  to 
her. 


221 

"O  Hector,  who  wert  dearest  to  my  heart 
Of  all  my  husband's  brothers,  — for  the  wife 
Am  I  of  godlike  Paris,  him  whose  fleet 
Brought  me  to  Troy,  —  would  I  had  sooner  died! 
And  now  the  twentieth  year  is  past  since  first 
I  came  a  stranger  from  my  native  shore, 
Yet  have  I  never  heard  from  thee  a  word 
Of  anger  or  reproach.     And  when  the  sons 
Of  Priam,  and  his  daughters,  and  the  wives 
Of  Priam's  sons,  in  all  their  fair  array, 
Taunted  me  grievously,  or  Hecuba 
Herself f  —  for  Priam  ever  was  to  me 
A  gracious  father,  — thou  didst  take  my  part 
With  kindly  admonitions,  and  restrain 
Their  tongues  with  soft  address  and  gentle  words. 
Therefore  my  heart  is  grieved,  and  I  bewail 
Thee  and  myself  at  once, —  unhappy  me! 
For  now  I  have  no  friend  in  all  wide  Troy, — 
None  to  be  kind  to  me:  they  hate  me  all." 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXIV. 

With  the  funeral  of  Hector  the  Iliad  of  Homer 
ends.  The  poet's  subject,  as  has  been  said,  was  the 
Wrath  of  Achilles,  and  the  poem  properly  closes 
when  the  results  of  the  hero's  wrath  have  been  re- 
lated. The  concluding  lines  of  the  twenty-fourth, 
and  last,  book  of  the  Iliad  describe  the  funeral  cere- 
monies of  Hector,  which  were  the  same  as  those  per- 
formed by  the  Greeks  in  honor  of  Patroclus. 

Nine  days  they  toiled 
To  bring  the  trunks  of  trees,  and  when  the  tenth 


222 

Arose  to  light  the  abodes  of  men,  they  brought 
The  corse  of  valiant  Hector  from  the  town 
With  many  tears,  and  laid  it  on  the  wood 
High  up,  and  flung  the  fire  to  light  the  pile. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXIV. 

The  fire  burned  all  night,  and  next  day  they  gath- 
ered the  bones  of  Hector  and  placed  them  in  a 
golden  urn.  Then  they  buried  the  urn  and  erected 
a  tomb  over  the  grave. 

In  haste  they  reared  the  tomb,  with  sentries  set 
On  every  side,  lest  all  too  soon  the  Greeks 
Should  come  in  armor  to  renew  the  war. 
When  now  the  tomb  was  built,  the  multitude 
Returned,  and  in  the  halls  where  Priam  dwelt, 
Nursling  of  Jove,  were  feasted  royally. 
Such  was  the  mighty  Hector's  burial  rite. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  XXIV 


XII.     DEATH  OF  ACHILLES  — FALL  AND  DE- 
STRUCTION OF  TROY. 

AFTER  the  funeral  of  Hector  the  war  was  renewed. 
For  a  time  the  Trojans  remained  within  the  walls  of 
their  city,  which  were  strong  enough  to  resist  all  the 
assaults  of  the  enemy.  But  some  allies  having  come 
to  their  assistance,  they  were  encouraged  to  sally 
forth  again  and  fight  the  Greeks  in  the  open  plain. 
The  famous  and  beautiful  Queen  Pen-the-si-le'a 
came  with  an  army  of  her  Am'a-zons,  a  nation  of  fe- 
male warriors  who  dwelt  on  the  shores  of  the  Black 
Sea. 

Penthesilea  there  with  haughty  grace, 
Leads  to  the  wars  an  Amazonian  race; 
In  their  right  hands  a  pointed  dart  they  wield; 
The  left  for  ward,  sustains  the  lunar  shield. 

VERGIL, 

Brave  as  she  was  beautiful,  the  queen  of  the  Ama- 
zons scorned  to  remain  behind  the  shelter  of  walls, 
and  so,  leading  her  valiant  band  of  women  out  through 
the  gates,  she  made  a  fierce  attack  on  the  Greeks. 

A  terrific  battle  then  began,  and  many  warriors  on 

223 


225 

both  sides  were  laid  in  the  dust.  Penthesilea  her- 
self was  slain  by  Achilles.  The  hero  was  unwilling 
to  fight  with  a  woman,  and  he  tried  to  avoid  meet- 
ing the  queen,  but  she  attacked  him  so  furiously, 
first  hurling  her  spear,  and  then  rushing  upon  him 
sword  in  hand,  that  he  was  obliged  to  strike  in  self- 
defense.  With  a  thrust  of  his  lance  he  gave  her  a 
mortal  wound,  and  the  brave  heroine  fell,  begging 
Achilles  to  permit  her  body  to  be  taken  away  by  her 
own  people. 

Filled  with  pity  for  the  unfortunate  queen,  and 
with  admiration  for  her  courage  and  beauty,  the  hero 
granted  the  request.  He  even  proposed  that  the 
Greeks  should  perform  funeral  rites  and  build  a  tomb 
in  her  honor.  The  foul-mouthed  Thersites  (men- 
tioned in  a  previous  chapter  as  having  been  chas- 
tised by  Ulysses)  scoffed  at  this  proposal,  and  ridi- 
culed Achilles,  saying  that  he  was  not  so  soft-hearted 
in  his  treatment  of  Hector.  Enraged  at  his  insult- 
ing words,  the  chief  of  the  Myrmidons  struck  him 
dead  with  a  mighty  blow  of  his  fist. 

Now  Diomede  was  a  relative  of  the  unfortunate 
Thersites,  and  he  demanded  that  Achilles  should 
pay  to  the  family  of  the  dead  man  the  fine  required 
by  Greek  law  for  such  offenses.  Achilles  refused, 
and  he  was  about  to  retire  again  in  anger  from  the 
war,  and  even  to  return  home.  But  Ulysses 

STO.  OF  TROY —  15 


226 

persuaded  Diomede  to  withdraw  his  claim,  and  so 
made  peace  between  the  two  chiefs. 

Another  ally,  and  a  very  powerful  one,  now  came 
to  help  the  Trojans.  This  was  Mem'non,  king  of 
Ethiopia,  and  nephew  of  Priam,  being  the  son  of 
Priam's  brother  Ti-tho'nus,  and  Au-ro'ra,  goddess  of 
the  dawn.  With  an  army  of  ten  thousand  men  he 
arrived  at  Troy,  and  immediately  entered  the  field  to 
do  battle  with  the  Greeks.  Again  there  was  great 
slaughter  of  heroes  on  both  sides.  Memnon  killed 
Antilochus,  the  son  of  Nestor,  and  Nestor  challenged 
Memnon  to  single  combat.  But  on  account  of  the 
great  age  of  the  venerable  Greek,  the  Ethiopian  war- 
rior declined  to  fight  him.  Achilles  then  challenged 
Memnon,  and  the  two  heroes  fought  in  presence  of 
both  armies.  The  conflict  was  long  and  furious,  for 
Memnon,  too,  had  a  suit  of  armor  made  for  him  by 
Vulcan,  at  the  request  of  his  goddess  mother  Aurora,! 
and  in  strength  and  courage  he  was  almost  equal  to 
Achilles.  Once  more,  however,  fortune  favored  the 
chief  of  the  Myrmidons.  The  brave  Memnon  was 
slain,  and  Aurora  bore  away  his  body  that  funeral 
rites  might  be  performed. 

But  the  time  was  now  at  hand  when  the  great 
warrior  who  so  far  had  conquered  in  every  fight  was 
to  meet  his  own  doom.  We  have  seen  that  Hector, 
as  he  lay  dying  in  front  of  the  Scaean  Gate,  warned  * 


227 

Achilles  that  he  himself  should  fall  by  the  hand  of 
Paris.  This  prophecy  was  fulfilled. 

By  the  death  of  Memnon  the  Trojans  were  much 
discouraged.  Their  powerful  allies  had  been  de- 
feated, and  they  were  no  longer  able  to  hold  the  field 
against  the  enemy.  Soon  after  the  death  of  Mem- 
non there  was  a  great  battle,  in  which  the  Greeks, 
headed  by  Achilles,  drove  them  back  to  the  city 
walls.  Through  the  Scaean  Gate,  which  lay  open, 
the  Trojans  rushed  in  terror  and  confusion,  the 
Greeks  pressing  on  close  behind.  Achilles  reached 
the  gate,  and  was  about  to  enter,  when  Paris  aimed 
at  him  with  an  arrow.  Guided  by  Apollo,  the 
weapon  struck  the  hero  in  the  heel,  the  only  part 
in  \vhich  he  could  be  fatally  wounded. 

The  warrior  fell  to  the  ground,  whereupon  the 
Trojan  prince  hastened  up  and  slew  him  with  his 
sword.  A  terrific  struggle  took  place  over  the  body 
of  the  dead  chief,  but  by  mighty  efforts  Ajax  Tela- 
mon  and  Ulysses  succeeded  in  gaining  possession  of 
it,  and  carrying  it  to  the  Grecian  camp.  Deep  was 
the  grief  of  the  Greeks  at  the  death  of  their  great 
champion.  Magnificent  funeral  rites  and  games 
were  celebrated  in  his  honor,  his  goddess  mother, 
Thetis,  presiding  over  the  ceremonies.  After  the 
body  had  been  burned  in  the  customary  manner,  the 
bones  were  placed  in  a  vase  of  gold,  made  by  Vul- 


228 

can,  and  a  vast  mound  was  raised  on  the  shore  as  a 
monument  to  the  hero. 

The  sacred  army  of  the  warlike  Greeks 
Built  up  a  tomb  magnificently  vast 
Upon  a  cape  of  the  broad  Hellespont, 
There  to  be  seen,  far  off  upon  the  deep, 
By  those  who  now  are  born,  or  shall  be  born 
In  future  years. 

BRYANT,  Odyssey  *  Book  XXIV. 

The  armor  of  Achilles  was  offered  as  a  reward 
for  the  warrior  who  had  fought  most  bravely  in  res- 
cuing the  body,  and  who  had  done  most  harm  to 
the  Trojans.  To  decide  the  question  which  of  the 
Greek  chiefs  deserved  this  honor,  it  was  resolved  to 
take  the  votes  of  the  Trojan  prisoners  then  in  the 
Greek  camp,  who  had  witnessed  the  struggle  at  the 
Scaean  Gate.  The  majority  of  votes  were  in  favor 
of  Ulysses,  and  to  him,  therefore,  the  splendid 
shield  and  corselet  and  helmet  and  greaves,  made 
by  Vulcan  for  the  son  of  Thetis,  were  given.  Ajax 
was  so  disappointed  and  grieved  at  not  having  ob- 
tained the  coveted  prize  that  he  became  insane, 
and  in  his  frenzy  he  slew  himself  with  his  own 
sword. 

The  Greeks  had  now  lost  their  two  most  power- 
ful warriors,  and  they  began  to  think  that  it  was 
impossible  for  them  to  take  Troy  by  force,  and  that 


229 

they  must  try  other  methods.  So  the  wise  Ulysses 
then  set  his  brain  to  work  to  devise  some  stratagem 
by  which  the  city  might  be  taken.  The  first  thing 
he  did  was  to  capture  the  Trojan  prince  and  sooth- 
sayer, Helenus,  who  had  gone  out  from  the  city  to 
offer  sacrifices  in  the  temple  of  Apollo  on  Mount 
Ida.  Calchas,  the  Greek  soothsayer,  had  said  that 
Helenus  was  the  only  mortal  who  knew  by  what 
means  Troy  could  be  conquered,  and  so  Ulysses 
made  him  prisoner  and  threatened  him  with  death 
if  he  did  not  tell. 

Then  Helenus  told  the  Ithacan  chief  that  before 
Troy  could  be  taken  three  things  must  be  done. 
First,  he  said,  the  Greeks  must  get  the  arrows  of 
Hercules;  next,  they  must  carry  away  the  sacred 
Palladium,  for  as  long  as  it  remained  within  the 
walls  the  city  was  safe ;  and,  lastly,  they  must  have 
the  help  of  the  son  of  Achilles. 

Now  the  arrows  of  Hercules  could  be  obtained 
only  from  Phil-oc-te'tes,  a  Greek  chief  who  received 
them  from  Hercules  himself.  These  arrows  had 
been  dipped  in  the  blood  of  the  hydra,  a  monster 
Hercules  had  slain.  This  made  them  poisonous, 
so  that  wounds  inflicted  by  them  were  fatal.  Phil- 
octetes  was  with  his  countrymen  at  Aulis  when 
they  set  sail  for  Troy,  but  he  was  bitten  on  the  foot 
by  a  serpent,  and  the  smell  of  the  injured  part 


230 

being  so  offensive  that  his  comrades  could  not  en- 
dure it,  he  had  been  left  behind,  on  the  advice  of 
Ulysses. 

Far  in  an  island,  suffering  grievous  pangs, — 
The  hallowed  isle  of  Lemnos.     There  the  Greeks 
Left  him,  in  torture  from  a  venomed  wound 
Made  by  a  serpent's  fangs.     He  lay  and  pined. 

BRYANT,  Iliad,  Book  II. 

Ulysses  now  resolved  to  get  Philoctetes  to  come 
to  Troy,  if  he  were  still  alive,  and  so,  taking  Dio- 
mede  with  him,  he  set  out  for  Lemnos.  They 
found  him  at  the  cave  where  they  had  left  him  ten 
years  before.  The  wound  was  not  yet  healed,  and 
he  had  suffered  much,  having  had  no  means  of  exist- 
ence except  game  which  he  had  to  procure  himself. 

Exposed  to  the  inclement  skies, 

Deserted  and  forlorn  he  lies; 

No  friend  or  fellow-mourner  there, 

To  soothe  his  sorrows  and  divide  his  care. 

SOPHOCLES  (Francklin's  tr.) 

Still  enraged  at  their  former  ill-treatment  of  him, 
Philoctetes  at  first  refused  the  request  of  the  two 
chiefs.  Their  mission  would  have  failed  had  not 
Hercules  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream  and  advised 
him  to  go  to  Troy,  telling  him  that  his  wound 
would  be  healed  by  the  famous  Machaon.  He 
then  gladly  went  with  Ulysses  and  Diomede.  On 
his  arrival  at  the  Grecian  camp  the  great  physician 


231 

cured  him  by  casting  him  into  a  deep  sleep  and 
cutting  away  the  diseased  flesh  from  the  injured 
foot  He  awoke  in  perfect  health  and  strength,  and 
at  once  joined  his  countrymen  in  the  war,  resolved 
to  make  good  use  of  his  fatal  arrows. 

An  opportunity  soon  offered,  for  the  Trojans  now 
began  again  to  venture  out  in  the  open  plain,  think- 
ing that  the  Greeks  were  not  so  dangerous  since 
the  terrible  Achilles  was  no  longer  at  their  head. 
Their  new  general  in  chief  was  Paris,  and  Philoc- 
tetes,  happening  to  encounter  him  in  battle,  aimed 
at  him  with  one  of  his  poisoned  arrows  and  pierced 
him  through  the  shoulder.  Paris  was  immediately 
carried  back  to  the  city,  suffering  intense  pain,  for 
the  poison  quickly  began  to  take  effect.  Then  at 
last  the  thoughts  of  Paris  turned  to  the  fair  CEnone, 
whom,  twenty  years  before,  he  had  left  in  sorrow 
and  loneliness  on  Mount  Ida.  He  remembered 
her  words,  that  he  would  one  day  have  recourse  to 
her  for  help.  Hoping,  therefore,  that  she  might 
take  pity  on  him,  and  perhaps  cure  him  of  his 
wound,  for  she  had  been  instructed  in  medicine  by 
Apollo,  he  ordered  his  attendants  to  carry  him  to 
where  she  still  dwelt  on  the  slopes  of  Ida.  CEnone 
had  not  forgotten  his  cruel  desertion  of  her,  and 
so  she  refused  to  use  her  skill  in  his  behalf.  But 
when  she  heard  that  he  was  dead,  she  came  down 


232 

to  Troy,  and  in  her  grief  threw  herself  on  his  funeral 
pyre,  and  perished  by  his  side. 

She  rose,  and  slowly  down, 
By 'the  long  torrent's  ever-deepen'd  roar, 
Paced,  following,  as  in  trance,  the  silent  cry. 


Then  moving  quickly  forward  till  the  heat 

Smote  on  her  brow,  she  lifted  up  a  voice 

Of  shrill  command,  ''Who  burns  upon  the  pyre?" 

Whereon  their  oldest  and  their  boldest  said, 

"  He  whom  thou  wouldst  not  heal !  "  and  all  at  once 

The  morning  light  of  happy  marriage  broke 

Thro'  all  the  clouded  years  of  widowhood, 

And  muffling  up  her  comely  head,  and  crying 

"  Husband!  "  she  leapt  upon  the  funeral  pile, 

And  mixt  herself  with  him  and  past  in  fire. 

TENNYSON,  Death  of  CEnone. 

Meanwhile  the  Ithacan  king,  not  forgetting  the 
other  conditions  mentioned  by  Helenas,  set  sail  for 
the  island  of  Scyros,  where  the  son  of  Achilles 
resided.  His  name  was  Pyr'rhus,  or  Ne-op-tore-mus, 
and,  as  he  was  a  brave  youth,  he  rejoiced  at  having 
an  opportunity  of  fighting  the  Trojans,  by  whom 
his  father  had  been  killed.  Ulysses  gave  him  his 
father's  armor,  and  by  many  heroic  deeds  in  the  war 
he  proved  that  he  was  worthy  to  wear  it. 

The  Palladium  was  now  to  be  carried  off  from 
Troy,  and  this  was  a  task  by  no  means  easy  to  per- 


233 

form.  But  the  man  of  many  arts  succeeded  in 
accomplishing  it.  Putting  on  the  garments  of  a 
beggar,  and  scourging  his  body  so  as  to  leave  marks, 
he  went  to  the  Scaean  Gate,  and  entreated  the 
guards  to  admit  him.  He  told  them  that  he  was  a 
Greek  slave,  and  that  he  wished  to  escape  from  his 
master  who  had  cruelly  ill-used  him.  The  guards, 
believing  his  story,  permitted  him  to  enter  the  city. 

"He  had  given  himself 

Unseemly  stripes,  and  o'er  his  shoulders  flung 
Vile  garments  like  a  slave's,  and  entered  thus 
The  enemy's  town,  and  walked  its  spacious  streets. 
Another  man  he  seemed  in  that  disguise.  — 
A  beggar,  though  when  at  the  Achaian  fleet 
So  different  was  the  semblance  that  he  wore. 
He  entered  Ilium  thus  transformed,  and  none 
Knew  who  it  was  that  passed." 

BRYANT,  Odyssey,  Book  IV. 

But  Helen,  happening  to  pass  by  at  a  place  near 
the  king's  palace,  where  the  pretended  beggar  sat 
down  to  rest,  immediately  recognized  him.  He 
made  a  sign  to  her  to  keep  silent,  thinking  that 
Paris  being  now  dead,  Helen  perhaps  was  friendly 
to  the  Greeks,  and  wished  them  to  take  Troy,  so 
that  she  might  return  to  her  own  country.  In  this 
Ulysses  was  right,  as  very  soon  appeared,  and  as 
Helen  declared  years  afterwards,  when  telling  to  his 


234 

own  son,  Telemachus,  the  story  of  the  Ithacan  king's 
adventure  within  the  walls  of  Troy. 

"  For  I  already  longed 
For  my  old  home,  and  deeply  I  deplored 
The  evil  fate  that  Venus  brought  on  me, 
Who  led  me  thither  from  my  own  dear  land." 

BRYANT,  Odyssey.  Book  IV. 

Helen  passed  on  without  uttering  a  word,  but  in 
the  evening  she  sent  one  of  her  maids  to  bring 
Ulysses  secretly  to  her  apartment  in  the  palace. 
There  she  expressed  her  joy  at  meeting  her  country- 
man, and  after  hospitably  entertaining  him,  she 
listened  with  pleasure  to  his  plans.  She  then  told 
him  of  the  plans  of  the  Trojans,  and  where  and  how 
the  Palladium  was  to  be  got.  Having  thus  obtained 
the  information  he  desired,  Ulysses  contrived  to 
make  his  way  back  unobserved  to  the  Greek  camp. 
In  a  few  days  he  returned,  accompanied  by  Dio- 
mede.  They  got  into  the  city  by  scaling  the  walls, 
and  Diomede,  climbing  on  the  shoulders  of  Ulysses, 
entered  the  citadel.  Here,  by  following  the  direc- 
tions given  by  Helen,  he  found  the  famous  statue, 
and  he  and  his  companion  carried  it  off  to  their 
friends  at  the  ships,  who  rejoiced  at  the  success  of 
the  undertaking. 

Troy  was  now  no  longer  under  the  protection  of 
Pallas  Minerva.  Though  that  goddess  helped  the 


235 

Greeks  in  their  battles,  she  was  obliged  to  save  the 
city  itself  while  it  contained  her  sacred  statue.  But 
the  Palladium  being  no  longer  within  the  walls,  she 
was  now  at  liberty  to  help  the  Greeks  to  capture 
and  destroy  the  city.  She  therefore  put  into  the 
mind  of  Ulysses  the  idea  of  the  wooden  horse,  and 
she  instructed  the  Greek  chief  E-pe'us  how  to  make 
it.  This  horse  was  of  vast  size,  large  enough  to 
contain  about  a  hundred  men,  for  it  was  hollow 
within. 

By  Minerva's  aid,  a  fabric  reared, 

Which  like  a  steed  of  monstrous  height  appeared; 

The  sides  were  flanked  with  pine. 

VERGIL. 

When  it  was  finished,  provisions  were  put  into  it. 
Then  Ulysses,  and  Pyrrhus,  and  Menelaus,  and 
Epeus,  and  a  number  of  other  Greek  warriors, 
mounted  into  it  by  means  of  a  ladder,  after  which 
the  opening  was  fastened  by  strong  bolts. 

In  the  hollow  side, 

Selected  numbers  of  their  soldiers  hide; 
With  inward  arms  the  dire  machine  they  load; 
And  iron  bowels  stuff  the  dark  abode. 

VERGIL. 

Meanwhile  the  other  Greeks  broke  up  their  camp, 
and  all  going  aboard  their  ships,  they  set  sail,  as  if 
they  had  given  up  the  siege,  and  were  about  to  re- 
turn to  Greece.  But  they  went  no  farther  than 


230 

the  island  of  Ten'e-dos,  about  three  miles  from  the 
shore. 

In  sight  of  Troy  lies  Tenedos,  an  isle 
(While  Fortune  did  on  Priam's  empire  smile) 
Renowned  for  wealth;  but  since,  a  faithless  bay, 
Where  ships  exposed  to  wind  and  weather  lay. 
There  was  their  fleet  concealed. 

VERGIL. 

As  soon  as  the  Trojans  saw  from  their  walls  that 
the  tents  of  the  enemy  were  removed,  and  that 
their  fleet  had  departed,  they  were  filled  with  sur- 
prise and  delight.  They  believed  that  the  Greeks 
had  given  up  the  war,  and  so,  throwing  open  their 
gates,  they  rushed  out  in  multitudes  upon  the  plain, 
King  Priam  riding  in  his  chariot  at  their  head. 

The  Trojans,  cooped  within  their  walls  so  long, 
Unbar  their  gates,  and  issue  in  a  throng 
Like  swarming  bees,  and  with  delight  survey 
The  camp  deserted,  where  the  Grecians  lay. 

VERGIL. 

But  soon  their  attention  was  attracted  by  the  huge 
wooden  horse,  and  they  gathered  about  it,  astonished 
at  its  great  size,  and  wondering  what  it  meant. 
Some  thought  that  it  meant  evil  to  Troy,  and  ad- 
vised that  it  should  be  burned ;  others  proposed  that 
it  should  be  hauled  into  the  city  and  placed  within 
the  citadel.  La-oc'o-on,  one  of  Priam's  sons,  who 
was  also  a  priest  of  Apollo,  cried  out  in  a  loud  voice, 


237 

warning  the  king  and  people  against  doing  this. 
"  Are  you  so  foolish,"  he  exclaimed,  "  as  to  suppose 
that  the  enemy  are  gone  ?  Put  no  faith  in  this 
horse.  Whatever  it  is,  I  fear  the  Greeks  even  when 
offering  gifts." 

'  This  hollow  fabric  either  must  enclose 
Within  its  blind  recess,  our  secret  foes; 
Or  'tis  an  engine  raised  above  the  town 
To  overlook  the  walls,  and  then  to  batter  down. 
Somewhat  is  sure  designed  by  fraud  or  force: 
Trust  not  their  presents,  nor  admit  the  horse." 

VERGIL. 

Thus  saying,  Laocoon  hurled  his  spear  against 
the  side  of  the  horse,  and  it  sent  forth  a  hollow 
sound  like  a  deep  groan.  But  at  this  moment  a 
stranger,  having  the  appearance  of  a  Greek,  was 
brought  before  the  king.  Some  Trojan  shepherds, 
finding  him  loitering  on  the  river  bank,  had  made 
him  prisoner.  Being  asked  who  he  was  and  why 
he  was  there,  he  told  an  artful  story.  His  name,  he 
said,  was  Si'non,  and  he  was  a  Greek.  His  coun- 
trymen, having  decided  to  give  up  the  war,  resolved 
to  offer  one  of  themselves  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  gods, 
that  they  might  get  fair  winds  to  return  home,  and 
they  selected  him  to  be  the  victim.  To  escape  that 
terrible  fate  he  concealed  himself  among  the  reeds 
by  the  side  of  the  Scamander  until  the  fleet  de- 


parted.  This  was  Sinon's  account  of  himself.  The 
Trojans  believed  it,  and  the  prisoner  was  set  free. 
But  the  king  asked  him  to  tell  them  about  the 
wooden  horse, —  why  it  had  been  made,  and  left 
there  upon  the  plain. 

Then  Sinon  told  another  false  story.  He  said  that 
the  horse  was  a  peace  offering  to  Minerva,  who  had 
been  angry  because  the  Palladium  was  taken  from 
Troy.  For  that  insult  to  her,  the  goddess  com- 
manded the  Greeks  to  return  to  their  own  country, 
and  Calchas  ordered  them  to  build  the  horse  as  an 
atonement  for  their  crime.  He  also  told  them  to 
make  it  so  large  that  the  Trojans  might  not  be  able 
to  drag  it  within  their  gates ;  for  if  it  were  brought 
into  the  city,  it  would  be  a  protection  to  Troy,  but 
if  any  harm  were  done  to  it,  ruin  would  come  on  the 
kingdom  of  Priam. 

"We  raised  and  dedicate  this  wondrous  frame, 
So  lofty,  lest  through  your  forbidden  gates 
It  pass,  and  intercept  our  better  fates; 
For,  once  admitted  there,  our  hopes  are  lost; 
And  Troy  may  then  a  new  Palladium  boast: 
For  so  religion  and  the  gods  ordain, 
That,  if  you  violate  with  hands  profane 
Minerva's  gift,  your  town  in  flames  shall  burn; 
(Which  omen,  O  ye  gods,  on  Graecia  turn!) 
But  if  it  climb,  with  your  assisting  hands, 
The  Trojan  walls,  and  in  the  city  stands; 


239 

Then  Troy  shall  Argos  and  Mycenae  burn, 
And  the  reverse  of  fate  on  us  return." 

VERGIL. 

King  Priam  and  the  Trojans  believed  this  story 
too,  and  a  terrible  thing  which  just  then  happened 
made  them  believe  it  all  the  more.  After  Laocoon 
had  hurled  his  spear  at  the  wooden  horse,  he  and 
his  two  sons  went  to  offer  sacrifice  to  the  gods  at  an 
altar  erected  on  the  beach.  While  they  were  thus 
engaged,  two  enormous  serpents,  darting  out  from 
the  sea,  glided  up  to  the  altar,  seized  the  priest  and 
his  sons,  and  crushed  all  three  to  death  in  their  tre- 
mendous coils. 

First  around  the  tender  boys  they  wind, 

Then  with  their  sharpened  fangs  their  limbs  and  bodies  grind. 

The  wretched  father,  running  to  their  aid 

With  pious  haste,  but  vain,  they  next  invade: 

Twice  round  his  waist  their  winding  volumes  rolled; 

And  twice  about  his  gasping  throat  they  fold. 

The  priest  thus  doubly  choked  —  their  crests  divide, 

And  towering  o'er  his  head  in  triumph  ride. 

VERGIL. 

The  terrified  Trojans  regarded  this  awful  event 
as  a  punishment  sent  by  the  gods  upon  Laocoon  for 
insulting  Minerva  by  casting  his  spear  at  her  gift, 
which  they  now  believed  the  horse  to  be.  They 
therefore  resolved  to  take  the  huge  figure  into  the 
city  in  spite  of  the  advice  of  Cassandra,  who  also 


240 

warned  them  that  it  woul4  bring  ruin  upon  Troy. 
And  so  they  made  a  great  breach  in  the  walls,  for 
none  of  their  gates  were  large  enough  to  admit  the 
vast  image,  and  fastening  strong  ropes  to  its  feet 
they  dragged  it  into  the  citadel.  Then  they  deco- 
rated the  temples  with  garlands  of  green  boughs, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  the  day  in  festivity  and 
rejoicing. 

But  in  the  dead  of  the  night,  when  they  were  all 
sunk  in  deep  repose,  the  treacherous  Sinon  drew  the 
bolts  from  the  trapdoor  in  the  side  of  the  wooden 
horse,  and  out  came  the  Greek  warriors,  rejoicing 
at  the  success  of  their  stratagem. 

Sinon  next  hurried  down  to  the  beach,  and  there 
kindled  a  fire  as  a  signal  to  his  countrymen  on  the 
ships.  They  knew  what  it  meant,  for  it  was  part  of 
the  plan  that  had  been  agreed  on.  Quickly  plying 
their  oars,  they  soon  reached  the  shore,  and,  march- 
ing across  the  plain,  the  Greeks  poured  in  thousands 
into  the  streets,  through  the  breach  that  had  been 
made  in  the  walls. 

The  Trojans,  startled  from  their  sleep  by  the 
noise,  understood  at  once  what  had  happened. 
Hastily  they  rushed  to  arms,  and,  led  and  encour- 
aged by  /Eneas  and  other  chiefs,  they  fought  val- 
iantly to  drive  out  the  enemy,  but  all  their  valor  was 
in  vain.  Troy  was  at  last  taken.  The  victorious 


241 

Greeks  swept  through  the  city,  dealing  death  and 
destruction  around  them.  King  Priam  was  slain 
by  Pyrrhus,  at  the  foot  of  the  altar  in  one  of  the 
temples,  to  which  he  fled  for  safety.  His  son  Dei- 
phobus,  who  had  married  Helen  after  the  death  of 
Paris,  was  slain  by  Menelaus.  The  Spartan  king, 
believing  that  what  his  wife  had  done  had  been  de- 
creed by  the  Fates  and  the  will  of  the  gods,  par- 
doned her  and  took  her  with  him  to  his  ships. 
The  women  of  the  Trojan  royal  family  were  carried 
off  as  slaves. 

^Eneas,  with  his  father  Anchises  and  his  son 
I-u'lus,  escaped  from  the  city,  and  sailed  from  Troas 
with  a  fleet  and  a  number  of  warlike  followers. 
After  many  adventures  by  sea  and  land,  which  the 
Roman  poet,  Ver'gil,  tells  about  in  his  poem  called 
the  ^-ne'id,  he  reached  Italy.  There  he  estab- 
lished a  settlement,  and  his  descendants,  it  is  said, 
were  the  founders  of  Rome. 

Having  completed  their  work  of  destruction  and 
carried  off  to  their  ships  all  the  riches  of  Troy,  the 
Greeks  set  fire  to  the  city,  and  in  a  few  hours 
nothing  remained  but  a  mass  of  smouldering  ruins. 
So  ended  the  famous  Trojan  War.  The  prophecy 
of  the  soothsayer,  ^Esacus,  at  the  birth  of  Paris,  was 
fulfilled.  Paris  had  brought  destruction  upon  his 
family  and  country. 

STO.  OF  TROY  —  l6 


(242) 


XIII.     THE  GREEK  CHIEFS  AFTER  THE  WAR. 

GREAT  was  the  rejoicing  of  the  Greeks  at  having 
at  last  brought  the  long  and  terrible  war  to  a  suc- 
cessful end.  They  had  lost  heavily  in  men  and 
treasure,  but  they  had  defeated  and  destroyed  the 
enemy,  and  taken  possession  of  all  the  wealth  of 
the  rich  city  of  Troy.  They  now  looked  forward 
with  pleasure  to  the  prospect  of  a  safe  return  to  their 
homes  and  families,  which  they  had  not  seen  for  ten 
years.  But  for  some  of  them,  as  we  shall  see,  this 
happy  hope  was  never  realized. 

The  most  unfortunate  of  them  all  was  Agamem- 
non. He  reached  his  kingdom  and  city  of  Mycenae 
in  safety,  but  he  was  there  cruelly  murdered  by 
^-gis'thus,  a  relative  of  his,  whom  his  wife,  Clytem- 
nestra,  had  married  during  his  absence. 

yEgisthus  planned  a  snare. 
He  chose  among  the  people  twenty  men, 
The  bravest,  whom  he  stationed  out  of  sight, 
And  gave  command  that  others  should  prepare 
A  banquet.     Then  with  chariots  and  with  steeds, 
And  with  a  deadly  purpose  in  his  heart, 
243 


244 

He  went,  and,  meeting  Agamemnon,  bade 
The  shepherd  of  the  people  to  the  feast, 
And  slew  him  at  the  board. 

B  RYANT,  Odyssey,  Book  IV. 

The  Trojan  princess,  Cassandra,  who  accompanied 
Agamemnon  to  Mycenae,  had  warned  him  of  his 
doom,  but  as  usual  her  words  were  disregarded,  and 
she  herself  was  slain  at  the  same  time  as  the  ill-fated 
king.  Agamemnon  had  a  son  named  O-res'tes,  who 
was  then  but  a  boy,  and  y£gisthus  intended  to  kill 
him  also,  but  the  youth's  sister,  E-lec'tra,  contrived 
to  have  him  sent  secretly  to  the  court  of  his  uncle, 
Stro'phi-us,  king  of  Pho'cis.  Here  he  was  affec- 
tionately received  and  tenderly  cared  for.  His  con- 
stant companion  was  his  cousin,  Pyl'a-des,  the  son  of 
Strophius,  and  so  strong  was  their  friendship  for 
each  other  that  it  became  famous  in  song  and  story. 

When  Orestes  reached  the  years  of  manhood,  he 
resolved  to  punish  the  murderers  of  his  father. 
With  this  object  he  went  to  Mycenae,  taking  with 
him  his  friend  and  companion,  Pylades ;  and  having 
obtained  admission  to  the  royal  palace,  he  slew 
/Egisthus. 

Seven  years  in  rich  Mycenae  he  bore  rule, 
And  on  the  eighth,  to  his  destruction,  came 
The  nobly-born  Orestes,  just  returned 
From  Athens,  and  cut  off  that  man  of  blood, 


245 

The  crafty  wretch  ^Egisthus,  by  whose  hand 
Fell  his  illustrious  father. 

BRYANT,  Odyssey,  Book  III. 

As  Clytemnestra  had  taken  part  in  the  murder  of 
Agamemnon,  Orestes  slew  her  also.  This  killing  of 
his  own  mother  provoked  the  anger  of  the  gods,  and 
Orestes  was  commanded  to  go  to  the  oracle  of 
Apollo,  at  Delphi,  to  learn  there  what  punishment 
he  should  suffer  for  his  crime.  He  obeyed,  and  the 
oracle  told  him  that  he  must  bring  to  Greece  a 
statue  of  Diana  which  was  then  in  the  temple  of 
that  goddess  in  Taurica. 

This  was  a  dangerous  enterprise,  for  the  king  of 
Taurica  had  a  practice  of  sacrificing  in  that  very 
temple  any  foreigners  found  in  his  country.  Never- 
theless Orestes  undertook  the  task.  He  went  to 
Taurica,  accompanied,  as  usual,  by  his  ever  faithful 
friend  Pylades.  No  sooner  had  they  arrived  than 
they  were  seized  and  carried  before  the  king,  and 
condemned  to  be  sacrificed.  But  Orestes  discov- 
ered, to  his  surprise  and  delight,  that  the  priestess  of 
the  temple  was  his  own  sister,  Iphigenia,  who,  as 
will  be  remembered,  had  been  carried  away  many 
years  before  by  Diana  herself,  when  about  to  be  sac- 
rificed by  the  Greeks  at  Aulis.  By  the  help  of 
Iphigenia,  the  two  friends  not  only  escaped  from 
Taurica,  but  carried  off  the  statue,  and  Iphigenia 


246 

returned  with  them  to  Greece.  Orestes  succeeded 
to  the  throne  of  his  father,  and  as  king  of  Mycenae 
he  lived  and  reigned  many  years  in  prosperity  and 
happiness. 

Menelaus  returned  to  his  kingdom  of  Sparta  with 
his  wife,  Helen,  but  he  had  many  wanderings  and 
adventures.  He  was  detained  by  unfavorable  winds 
for  some  time  on  an  island  near  the  coast  of  Egypt, 
and  he  might  never  have  reached  home  but  for  the 
advice  he  received  from  Pro'teus,  one  of  the  sea 
gods.  It  was  no  easy  matter  to  get  advice  from  Pro- 
teus. It  was  very  difficult  to  find  him,  and  still 
more  difficult  to  get  him  to  answer  questions,  for  he 
had  a  habit  of  changing  himself  rapidly  into  many 
different  forms,  and  so  escaping  from  those  who 
came  to  consult  him.  But  Menelaus  had  the  good 
fortune  of  meeting  a  water  nymph  named  I-do'the-a, 
a  daughter  of  Proteus,  and  she  directed  him  what  to 
do.  There  was  a  certain  cave  near  the  seaside,  to 
which  the  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  as  Proteus  was  some- 
times called,  came  every  day  at  noon  to  sleep. 
Idothea  told  Menelaus  he  would  find  the  old  man 
there,  and  that  he  must  seize  him  quickly  in  hih 
arms,  and  hold  him  fast  in  spite  of  all  his  changes, 
until  he  took  the  shape  in  which  he  had  first  ap- 
peared. Then  he  would  answer  any  question  put  to 
him. 


247 

"  As  soon 

As  ye  behold  him  stretched  at  length,  exert 
Your  utmost  strength  to  hold  him  there,  although 
He  strive  and  struggle  to  escape  your  hands; 
For  he  will  try  all  stratagems,  and  take 
The  form  of  every  reptile  on  the  earth, 
And  turn  to  water  and  to  raging  flame,  — 
Yet  hold  him  firmly  still,  and  all  the  more 
Make  fast  the  bands.     When  he  again  shall  take 
The  form  in  which  thou  sawest  him  asleep, 
Desist  from  force,  and  loose  the  bands  that  held 
The  ancient  prophet.     Ask  of  him  what  god 
Afflicts  thee  thus,  and  by  what  means  to  cross 
The  fishy  deep  and  find  thy  home  again." 

BRYANT,  Odyssey,  Book  IV. 

Menelaus  followed  these  directions,  taking  with 
him  three  of  his  bravest  warriors,  as  Idothea  also 
advised.  They  found  Proteus,  and  rushing  upon 
him,  they  seized  and  held  him  firmly  in  their  grip, 
though  he  tried  hard  to  escape. 

First  he  took  the  shape 
Of  a  maned  lion,  of  a  serpent  next, 
Then  of  a  panther,  then  of  a  huge  boar, 
Then  turned  to  flowing  water,  then  became 
A  tall  tree  full  of  leaves.     With  resolute  hearts 
We  held  him  fast,  until  the  aged  seer 
Was  wearied  out,  in  spite  of  all  his  wiles. 

BRYANT,  Odyssey,  Book  IV. 

The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea  then  told  Menelaus  that 
he  must  go  to  Egypt,  to  the  river  there,  and  offer 


248 

sacrifices  to  the  gods,  and  that  they  would  send  him 
forth  upon  his  voyage  home,  which  would  be  speedy 
and  safe.  The  Greek  chief  did  as  Proteus  directed, 
and  the  prophecy  was  fulfilled.  He  soon  reached  his 
Spartan  home,  where,  with  his  famous  queen,  Helen, 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  happiness. 

Idomeneus,  the  warrior  king  of  Crete,  reached 
his  island  kingdom  in  safety. 

Idomeneus  brought  also  back  to  Crete 
All  his  companions  who  survived  the  war; 
The  sea  took  none  of  them. 

BRYANT,  Odyssey,  Book  III. 

But  a  sad  event  occurred  on  his  arrival  in  the 
island.  During  his  voyage  home  there  was  a  terri- 
ble storm,  and  Idomeneus  much  feared  that  his  fleet 
might  be  destroyed.  He  then  made  a  vow  that  if 
his  ships  escaped,  he  would  sacrifice  to  Neptune  the 
first  living  creature  he  met  on  landing.  Unfortu- 
nately this  happened  to  be  his  own  son,  who  came 
down  to  the  shore  to  receive  and  welcome  his  father. 
Idomeneus,  though  overwhelmed  with  grief,  never- 
theless fulfilled  his  promise  to  the  god,  but  the 
Cre'tans  were  so  incensed  at  the  inhuman  act  that 
they  banished  him  from  the  island. 

A  flying  rumor  had  been  spread 
That  fierce  Idomeneus  from  Crete  was  fled, 
Expelled  and  exiled. 

VERGIL. 


249 

Thus  driven  from  his  own  country  Idomeneus 
sailed  westward  until  he  came  to  the  southern  coast 
of  Italy,  where  he  founded  the  city  and  colony  of 
Sal-len'tia,  and  lived  to  an  extreme  old  age. 

The  fate  of  Ajax  Oileus,  king  of  Locris,  was  al- 
most as  terrible  as  that  of  Agamemnon.  On  the 
night  of  the  destruction  of  Troy  he  had  cruelly  ill- 
treated  the  princess  Cassandra,  whom  he  dragged 
from  the  altar  of  the  temple  of  Minerva,  to  which 
she  had  fled  for  refuge.  Even  the  Greeks  them- 
selves were  shocked  at  the  crime,  and  they  threat- 
ened to  punish  him  for  it.  He  was,  however,  al- 
lowed to  set  sail  for  Greece.  But  Minerva  borrowed 
from  Jupiter  his  flaming  thunderbolts,  and,  obtain- 
ing permission  from  Neptune,  she  raised  a  furious 
tempest,  which  destroyed  the  Locrian  king's  ship. 
He  himself  swam  to  a  rock,  and  as  he  sat  there  he 
defiantly  cried  out  that  he  was  safe  in  spite  of  all  the 
gods.  This  insult  to  the  immortals  brought  upon 
him  the  wrath  of  Neptune,  who,  smiting  the  rock 
with  his  awful  trident,  hurled  the  impious  Ajax  into 
the  depths  of  the  sea. 

He  had  said 

That  he,  in  spite  of  all  the  gods,  would  come 
Safe  from  those  mountain  waves.     When  Neptune  heard 
The  boaster's  challenge,  instantly  he  laid 
His  strong  hand  on  the  trident,  smote  the  rock 


250 

And  cleft  it  to  the  base.     Part  stood  erect, 
Part  fell  into  the  deep.     There  Ajax  sat, 
And  felt  the  shock,  and  with  the  falling  mass 
Was  carried  headlong  to  the  billowy  depths 
Below,  and  drank  the  brine  and  perished  there. 

BRYANT.  Odyssey^  Book  IV. 

The  venerable  Nestor  reached  his  home  without 
misfortune  or  accident.  He  ended  his  days  in 
peace  in  his  kingdom  of  Pylos,  though  he  had  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  brave  son'Antilochus,  whom 
Memnon  had  slain. 

Diomede  also  reached  his  kingdom  of  y^Etolia, 
but  he  found  that  in  his  absence  his  home  had  been 
seized  by  a  stranger.  This  was  a  punishment  sent 
upon  him  by  Venus,  whom,  as  we  have  seen,  he  had 
wounded  in  the  hand  at  the  siege  of  Troy. 

"  Mad  as  I  was,  when  I,  with  mortal  arms, 
Presumed  against  immortal  powers  to  move, 
And  violate  with  wounds  the  queen  of  love." 

VERGIL. 

Quitting  his  kingdom  and  country,  the  warrior 
wandered  to  other  lands.  He  finally  settled  in  the 
south  of  Italy,  where  he  built  a  city,  which  he  called 
Ar-gyr'i-pa,  and  married  the  daughter  of  Dau'nus, 
the  king  of  the  country. 

Great  Diomede  has  compassed  round  with  walls 
The  city,  which  Argyripa  he  calls, 
From  his  own  Argos  named. 

VERGIL. 


251 

Neoptolemus,  or  Pyrrhus,  the  son  of  Achilles, 
returned  to  Phthia,  where  his  grandfather,  Peleus, 
still  lived  and  reigned.  He  took  with  him  Andro- 
mache and  Helenus,  the  only  one  of  Priam's  sons 
who  lived  after  the  destruction  of  Troy.  Pyrrhus 
died  a  few  years  after  his  return,  and  Andromache 
became  the  wife  of  Helenus.  The  Trojan  prince 
soon  gained  the  friendship  of  Peleus,  who  gave  him 
a  kingdom  in  E-pi'rus  to  rule  over,  and  here  he  and 
Andromache  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives 
together. 

But  no  one  of  all  the  warrior  chiefs  of  Greece  who 
fought  at  Troy  met  with  so  many  dangers  in  return- 
ing to  his  native  land  as  the  famous  Ulysses.  Ten 
year  elapsed  after  the  end  of  the  great  war  before 
he  reached  his  Ithacan  home.  There  he  was  wel- 
comed by  his  devoted  wife,  Penelope,  and  his 
affectionate  son,  Telemachus,  who  had  passed  all 
those  years  in  loving  remembrance  of  him  and 
anxious  hope  of  his  coming.  His  wonderful  ad- 
ventures during  his  many  wanderings  are  described 
in  Homer's  Odyssey.  An  account  of  them  would 
fill  another  book  like  this  Story  of  Troy. 


PERSONS  AND  PLACES  MENTIONED. 


Ac'  a  mas 

Au  ro'ra 

Dis  cor'  di  a 

Iph  i  ge  nf  a 

A  cha'ians 

Au  torn'  e  don 

Do'  Ion 

I'  ris 

(yans) 

Bae'-ehus 

E  e"  ti  on 

I'  sus 

A  chil'leg 

Ba'  li  uu 

E'gypt 

Ith'  a  ca 

M  ge'an 

Bo'  re  as 

E  lee'  tra 

I  u'  lus 

M  gis'thus 

Bri'a  reus  (rus) 

E  pe'  us 

Ju'  no 

M  ne'as 

Bri  se'  is 

Eph  i  al'  te§ 

Ju'  pi  ter 

M  ne'id 

•Cal'-ehas 

E  pf  rus 

La€h'  e  sis 

Ms'  a  cus 

-Cal  If  o  pe 

E'ris 

La  er'  te§ 

^Es  €u  la'  pi  us 

Oa'ri  a 

E  thi  o'  pi  a 

La  oe'  o  on 

^Et'na 

•Cas  san'dra 

Eu  phor'  bus 

La  od  a  mi  a 

M  to'  li  a 

-Cas  ta'  li  a 

Eu  ryl'  a  te§ 

La  od'  i  ge 

Ag  a  mem'  non 

Ce  lu'o  ne§ 

Eu  ryn'  o  me 

La  od'  o  cus 

A  ge'nor 

•Ghf  ron 

Gan'  y  mede 

La  om'  e  don 

A'jax 

•Chry  se'  is 

Glau'  cus 

La  to'  na 

Am'a  zons        • 

•Chry'seg 

Ha'  de§ 

Le'  da 

An  drom'a  €he 

€lo'  tho 

Hec'  tor 

Lem'  nos 

An  te"  nor 

•Clyt  eni  nes'  tra 

Hec'  u  ba 

LeY  na 

An  til'o  €hus 

-Co'on 

Hel'  e  nus 

Les'  bos 

An'ti  phus 

Oran'a  e 

Hel'  las 

L6'  cris 

Aph  ro  df  te 

-Cres'si  da 

Her'  €U  le-5 

Lye'  i  a 

A  pol'  lo 

-Cre  tans 

'  Her'  mes. 

Ly€  o  me'  de§ 

Ar  €he  la'  us 

Cy'clops 

He  sf  o  ne 

Lyr  nes'  sus 

Ar  chil'o  €hus 

Dar  da  nelles' 

Ho'  mer 

Ma  cha'  on 

Ar'gives 

Dar  da'  ni  a 

I  dae'  us 

Me'  le§ 

Ar'gos 

Dar'  da  nus 

I  dom'  e  neus 

Mel  e  sig'  e  ne§ 

Ar  gyr'  i  pa 

Dau'  nus 

(nus) 

Mem'  non 

As  ty'a  nax 

De  iph'  o  bus- 

I  do'  the  a 

Men  e  la'  us 

A'treus  (trus) 

Del'  phi 

11'  i  on 

Mer'  cu  ry 

A  tri'  des 

Di  an'  a 

11'  i  um 

Me  rf  o  ne§ 

At'  ro  pos 

Df  o  mede 

I'  lus 

MI  n6r'  va 

Au'  lis 

Df  o  ne 

I  phid'  a  mas 

My  ge"  nae 

253 


254 


Myr'  mi  dons 

Pe  leus  (lus) 

PyV  rhus 

Tau'  ri  €a 

Mys'  i  a 

Pe'  li  on 

Pyth'  i  a 

Tel'  a  mon 

Ne  op  tol'  e  mus 

Pel  o  pon  ne'  sus 

Rhe'  sus 

Te  lem'  a  chus 

Nep'  tune 

Pe'  lops 

Sal'  a  mis 

Tel'  e  phus 

Ne  re'  i  de§ 

Pe  nel'  of  pe 

Sal  len'  tia 

Ten'  e  dos 

Ne'  re  us 

Pen  the  si  le'  a 

Sam'  o  thrace 

Teu'  cer 

Nes'  tor 

Per'  ga  mus 

Sar  pe'  don 

Teu'  cri  a 

O  dys'  seus 

Pher'  e  clus 

S^a  man'  der 

Teu  thra/  ni  a 

(sus) 

Phil  o«  te'  te§ 

S«a  man'  dri  us 

The'  be 

OE  no'  ne 

Pho"  §is 

Sgy'  ros 

Ther  si'  teg 

O  i'  leus  (lus) 

Phoe'  bus 

SiQ'  i  ly 

Thes'  sa  ly 

O  lym'  pus 

Phoe'  nix 

Sim'  o  is 

The'  tis 

O  res'  tes 

Phryg'  i  a 

Sf  non 

Ti  tho'  nus 

O'  tus 

Phthi'  a 

Smin'  theus 

Tro'  as 

Pae'  on 

Phyl'  a  ce 

(thus) 

Tro'  i  lus 

Pal  a  me'  de§ 

Plu'  to 

Smyr'  na 

Ty'  deus  (dus) 

Pal  la'  di  um 

Po  dar'  ce§ 

So'  -eus 

Ty  df  de§ 

Pal'  las 

Po  lyd'  a  mas 

Som'  nus 

Tyn'  da  rus 

Pan'  da  rus 

Pol  y  do'  rus 

Spar'  ta 

U  lys'  se§ 

Par  nas'  sus 

Prf  am 

Sten'  tor 

Ve'  nus 

Par'  is 

Pro  tes  i  la'  us 

Sthen'  e  lus 

V6r'  gil 

Par'  the  non 

Pro'  teus  (tus) 

Stro'  phi  us 

var  «an 

Pa  tro'  clus 

Pyl'  a  de§ 

Tal  thyb'  i  us 

Xan'  thus 

Fed'  a  sus 

Py'los 

Tar'  ta  rus 

Zeph'  y  rus 

> 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


OCT  341947 


V  /W 


LD  21-100m-12,'46(A2012sl6)4120 


YB  00299 


U.  C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


'( 


